The Merlin Theatre will be hosting a live Q&A with one of this country’s most ground-breaking and acclaimed contemporary theatre directors as a part of its autumn programme.
Emma Rice will join the Merlin audience, staff and volunteers to talk about her work and to take your questions, following a live-recorded showing of her bawdy, joyous production ‘Wise Children’ on 26th October.
Opening to rave reviews in 2018 and featuring a talented ensemble cast, the show is tale of family, scandal and mischief described as ‘pure, unadulterated theatre’ which takes the audience on a rollercoaster ride of emotion.
Formerly artistic director of Shakespeare’s Globe (2016/18), Emma Rice hails originally from the West Country. Having studied professional acting at the prestigious Guildhall School of Music and Drama, she returned to the South West to work with Exeter’s community and children’s touring company Theatre Alibi, which, she says, “changed my life. Children’s work taught me a lot of skills and beliefs that I am absolutely bound to even to this day.”
Emma’s career went on to see her join Cornwall’s renowned Kneehigh Theatre, initially as a performer, but then director, Her landmark and long-running production of ‘The Red Shoes’ cemented her reputation as an outstanding theatre-maker. She became joint artistic director at Kneehigh and directed shows in association with the RSC, the National Theatre, Battersea Arts Centre, Bristol Old Vic and Sadler’s Wells, to name only some.
Emma Rice’s warm, witty and anarchic style brought her inevitably to create and lead new theatre company, Wise Children, an Arts Council England portfolio organisation, based in Bristol, in April 2018.
Emma Rice will be at the Merlin Theatre on Saturday 26th October; tickets for the showing of ‘Wise Children’ at 7pm, followed by a Q-and-A are available from merlintheatre.co.uk or from the box office on 465949.
