THE PROGRAMME

Josephine has been in the making for a number of years. Here you will find some information about the teams behind it.

Writers’ note:

Josephine’s story is a truly remarkable one. A woman who lived through World Wars, danced her way through the Roaring Twenties, became a spy in the 40s and spoke up for American Civil Rights in the 60s. We couldn’t believe we were only hearing about her for the first time in 2015!  Our writing process began as an attempt to address this problem, but quickly became a bigger question of why we choose to remember some people and not others, and how their stories can get twisted!

Having two writers going on this journey together was as much of an adventure as the drama in the play! We knew that to do justice to the complicated and contradictory nature of Josephine we’d need to embrace our different writing styles of traditional narrative and poetry. We did so through the characters of Marie and Jack, whose different styles reflect different views of Josephine. 

We hope that these stories inspired by Josephine’s life will inspire more people to examine their own history and the legends that surround them. 

The Company

Ebony trained at The Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts.

Her theatre credits include: Mum and Various roles in Jack and the Beanstalk (Nottingham Playhouse)

Captain Smollett in ‘Treasure Island’ (Bolton Octagon Theatre), Camilla in ‘The Winters Tale’ (National Theatre), Ma in ‘Babe’ (Mercury Theatre Colchester),Tortoise in ‘Hare and Tortoise’ Tour (Pied Piper Theatre Company),Puck in ‘Midsummer Nights Dream’ (Feelgood Theatre Company),Miss Spider/ Aunt Spiker in ‘James and the Giant Peach’ (Watershed Theatre Company/Polka Theatre), Princess/Wise Woman in ‘Snow Queen’ (Z Arts/ Cast Doncaster), Dorylia in ‘Emergency Story Penguin’ (Slung Low), Jeneba in ‘Skyhawk’ Musical (Theatr Clwyd Cymru), Alice in ‘Alice’s Adventures In Wonderland’ (Polka Theatre), Miss Smiley/Jemima in ‘Grandpa In My Pocket’ (Nottingham Playhouse and UK National Tour), Mende in ‘Slave a Question of Freedom’ (Feelgood Theatre Company/ The Lowry Manchester), Gretel in ‘Hansel and Gretel’ (Pilot Theatre Company/York Theatre Royal), Maxine in ‘Fungus the Bogeyman’ (Pilot Theatre Company/ York Theatre Royal), Roly Poly bird in ‘The Twits’ (Bolton Octagon Theatre/ Pilot theatre Company), Claudia the Cat in ‘Dick Whittington’ (Durham Gala Theatre), Cindy Relisha in ‘Cindy Relisha and the DJ Prince’ (Manchester Library Theatre), Chantaye in ‘Hey There Boy With the Bebop’ (Polka Theatre)

Television credits: Andy and the Band (CBBC), Moving On (Series 9, BBC1), Roald Dahl’s Most Marvellous Book (Channel 4), The Marchioness Disaster (Yorkshire Television), Vincent (Granada Television)

Radio credits: Stranger Faces, Reality Checks, Many Happy Returns (All for BBC Radio 4).

Commercial: Asda (TV), Suzuki Advert (ITV).

Sadi is a recent graduate of Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts. She will be making her professional debut at Marie 

Credits Whilst Training include: Mother Clap’s Molly House (Philip Engleheart), The Love of the Nightingale (Richard Cant), Northanger Abby (Jack Kelly), Candide (Rupert Hands)

Jack trained at Drama Studio London where he was a winner of the Laurence Olivier Bursary Award. His work includes shows at the Royal Court Theatre, West Yorkshire Playhouse, along with television appearances on ITV’s ‘Mr. Selfridge’. Jack is also a musician, with work as a Musical Director including shows at Clapham Omnibus Theatre. He is also writing his first play after receiving a grant from the Polka Theatre as one of their ‘PolkaLab’ artists.

was born in Croydon, South London, in 1995. He started his training in Performing Arts at the Italia Conti Arts Centre in Guildford, at the age of 16. He then flew across the globe to Canada at the Vancouver Film School, where he received a National Diploma in Acting, where he performed in a number productions. Daniel has explored many roles in number of short films  Additionally, he is musically inclined and able to play musical instruments such as the drums. His love and dedication for the craft is definite.

Michaela graduated from the Royal Academy of Music and the University of Southampton, BA (Hons). Theatre credits include: Marie in Josephine (The Egg); Belle, Ghost of Christmas Future & Niece in A Christmas Carol (Tour); Dorian in The Unquiet Grave (Tour); Honey Grey in Lady of Jazz (Doye Mosse Productions); Juliet in Romeo & Juliet (Moving Stories Theatre Company); Amy in Hypochondria (Redgates Theatre Company); Tash in In Harms Way (Tour); Polly in Robinson Crusoe (Greenwich Theatre); Kate in The Rally (Stockwell Playhouse); Maria in The Nutcracker and the Mouse King (Cornerstone Arts); Researcher/Sunday Times Reporter in Brexit – The Musical (Edinburgh Frindge Fesitival); Polly Peachum in The Beggar’s Opera (Lazarus Theatre Company); Susanna Walcott/Martha Corey in The Crucible (Broken Arrow Productions); Artist #3 in Pool (No Water) (SJ Theatre Productions); Featured Performer in Finding Our Way. Concerts include: Feature Soloist/Ensemble in Songs For Pride; Performer/Ensemble in Songs and Solidarity; Performer/Ensemble in West End Live (West End Gospel Choir); Diane (Ensemble Female 6) in How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying (City of London Festival); Chorus in Friday Night Is Music Night – Christmas Special (BBC Radio 2); Soloist in Curtain Up! (The Royal Academy of Music); Chorus: National Youth Choir of Great Britain in Prom 38: Beethoven’s 9th Symphony (BBC Proms); Chorus: National Youth Choir of Great Britain in Prom 29: Mahler’s 2nd Symphony (BBC Proms). Workshops and Showcases include: Various Roles in Coriolanus; Various Roles in Face to Face; Amy Quinn in Hypocondria: Gateways New Writing Showcase (Redgates Theatre Company); Various Roles in Romeo and Juliet (Stockwell Playhouse); Dinah in The Demon Headmaster (Goblin Theatre Company); Sparrers Can’t Sing (Stockwell Playhouse); Various Roles in The Community. Michaela is currently on the UK Tour of The Dresser.

The Production Team

Leona is a London-born, partially New York raised, actor and writer based in South East London. She was a former member of the Expressive Writers Group at The Bush Theatre and an assistant director of the young company at Churchill Theatre, Bromley. As a performer, Leona’s recent acting credits include The Third Day: Autumn (Sky/HBO), Holes (UK Tour), I’d Rather Go Blind (Omnibus Theatre) and The Meeting (Chichester Festival Theatre). In 2016, Leona was awarded the Leverhulme Arts Scholarship by The Egg, to develop a new show for young audiences about the dancer and activist Josephine Baker. From its inception at the Incubator Festival in Bath, Leona is very excited to bring JOSEPHINE to young people and their families across the UK.

Jesse trained as an actor and theatre-maker with Uri Roodner at the University of Essex, and continued his studies at Aberystwyth University in performance and scenography. In 2010 he founded HOLM’s predecessor, Bear Trap Theatre, and for ten years developed productions including the Fringe First-winning Bound, Enduring Song, A Pupil and Messiah. Alongside this, he co-founded theatre company Wassail with Nick White, began an award-winning collaboration with designer Buddug James Jones, and worked on commissions for Little Soldier, HOME (Manchester), Theatre Centre, and Curious Directive.

Debbie is a designer for performance spaces, working across theatre, fashion, film, dance and opera and has worked with the National Theatre and the Royal Court. A Linbury Prize finalist for stage design 2019, prior to set design, Debbie had a career in fashion, directing the visual identity for The Shop at Bluebird.

Nadine Lee is an artist with more to her than meets the eye. 

Nadine is a drummer, bass player and singer/songwriter in that order and gives 100% to every performance no matter where it is.

 

For Nadine music is not just a beat, rhythm or melody it’s the window to her soul, so you could say, the truth always comes out.

 

Theatre includes: The Lightning Child (Shakespeare’s Globe); Junkyard (Bristol Old Vic/UK tour); This House (Leeds Playhouse/UK tour); Peter Pan (White City Theatre). Baghdad Cafe (The Old Vic) Film includes: The Man in The Hat. Nadine Lee is an artist, drummer, bass player, singer/songwriter and composer. She has worked alongside many music creatives including: Lizzo, The London Philharmonic Orchestra, Annie Lennox, Stephen Warbeck, Wise Children, Cece Winans, Ekklesia, London Community Gospel Choir, Lamar, Jamilia, Bryan McFaden, Katie Mueller and P Diddy. 

Simon Lee is a R&B, Soul, Gospel and Jazz Saxophonist based in the UK, and is quoted by many as having a wonderful Soulful Sound that cuts into the heart of the listener.

 

Simon is also a keen composer and arranger, playing in big bands as well as small ensembles and solo work.

 

TV includes: Christmas with the Carltons, Crucifixion, Rhod Gilbert (Never Mind The Buzzcocks)

Theatre includes: Josephine (The Egg Theatre)

Artists include: Annie Lennox, Lifford Shillingford, Mc Neat, Finally Nadine

Ingrid is a London based movement director, choreographer, teacher and dancer, working with UWL: London College of Music, Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, Royal Shakespeare Company, Nouveau Riche, Royal Court, The Lyric.

George is a Lighting Designer, Programmer and Production Electrician based in Bristol.  Recent previous work for The Egg includes “I Wish I Was A Mountain” (Dir. Lee Lyford), Snow Mouse (Dir. Nik Partridge), Nora: A Doll’s House (Dir. Julia Head), Marie Antoinette (Dir. Claire O’Reilly).

Ian is a Sound Designer and Engineer based in South Wales.  Recent designs include ‘The Merthyr Stigmatist’ (Theatre Uncut/Sherman Theatre), ‘The Arandora Star’ – Radio Drama (Theatr Na nÓg), The Snow Queen’ (Sherman Theatre), ‘Into the Light’ (Hijinx), ‘The Hunting of the Snark’ (RGM Productions) UK Tour.  Other roles include production sound engineer for ‘The Glee Club’ (Out of Joint), ‘Y Cylch Sialc’ (Theatr Genedlaethol Cymru) and a longstanding role at the Hay Literary Festival.  Ian also lectures in sound for theatre and supervises student productions at Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama.

Credits include: A Christmas Getaway (Dir. Feargus Dunlop & Heather Westwell, New Old Friend, The Ustinov, Theatre Royal Bath); Vixen (Dir. Maisie Newman, Travelling Light Theatre, UK Touring); Crimes in Egypt (Dir. James Farrell, New Old Friends, UK Touring),  Crimes, Camera, Action (Dir. James Farrell, New Old Friends, UK Touring), Zero for the Young Dudes & Chaos (Dir. Kate Pasco & Josh Whatsize, Bath Theatre Academy, the egg); Crimes on the Nile (Dir. James Farrell, New Old Friends, UK Touring); I Wish I Was A Mountain (Dir. Lee Lyford, the egg, UK Touring). Becky is currently Production Manager for Travelling Light Theatre Company. Content

Kate Cross, Lindsay Baker, Nik Partridge, Jesse Briton, Tim Bell, Elgiva Field, Dan Lewis Jones

Josephine went on a long journey. We owe thanks to the following artists, mentors and organisations that helped it along its way:

Sara Lessore, Nenda Neurer, Etisyai Philip, Kerri Mclean, Tayo Elesin, Zara Nunn, Diane Alison Mitchell, Rikki Beadle-Blair, Natalie Ibu, Oval House, Theatre Peckham, Half Moon, Kerry Irvine, Bath Spa Productions, Bath Spa University and Spotlight

The Portal Team

Ed has worked in Primary education for 25 years as a nursery leader, class-teacher, head teacher, and now education consultant supporting schools in Bristol and Bath. His particular interest is curriculum development and how children’s learning can be enriched by the creative arts and real life experiences. He is the chair of the creative education charity House of Imagination.

Kate Cross MBE is Director of The Egg at Theatre Royal Bath. Starting in 1998 as Head of Education she worked alongside Theatre Royal staff and Board to create and build The Egg, a theatre for children and young people, which opened in 2005 and has since initiated flagship programmes such as School Without Walls, Engage Adult Creative Learning, The Incubator Idea Development Programme, Bath Theatre Academy and The Egg Assembly online digital theatre training platform.

Nik is a Bristol-based director and facilitator, who has worked extensively within the South-West. Nik has collaborated and produced work with organisations like Bristol Old Vic, Watermill Theatre, MAYK, The Egg, Strike-A-Light, Travelling Light, Theatre Bristol, Theatre Royal Plymouth and Tobacco Factory Theatres. Further afield he has made work for the Royal Court, Traverse and Galway International Arts Festival. He has held a number of building based and organisational roles with the JMK, Theatre Royal Plymouth and Tobacco Factory Theatres.

Originally from Cornwall, Becky Barry is a theatre maker and qualified BSL/English interpreter (Becky Allen RSLI).  She is a passionate advocate for access provision, representation and liberation – onstage and off.  Her work is multi-disciplinary: including performing as an actor-musician, translating and performing BSL interpretations of Shakespearean texts, working as an assistant director and creative associate, offering rehearsal room interpretation, delivering workshops and making films with young people, and acting as a mentor for Graeae’s Ensemble. She has worked extensively across the UK and abroad, including regular collaborations with Shakespeare’s Globe, Nickie Miles-Wildin, James Baldwin, The RSC and Derby Theatre.

Emile is a Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts trained performer with PTLLS (Preparing to Teach in the Lifelong Learning Sector) qualifications. He has extensive experience within theatre for corporate and creative purposes from performing with Disney to devising and co-writing Theatre in Education. Emile has also designed workshops for institutes that champion equality and diversity in film and theatre such as Picture House Cinema group, Refugee Youth, Museum of London and The Egg.

Raffie is a skilled deaf actor/dancer/performer/deviser with great energy and charisma. She is fluent in BSL and SSE & highly skilled in mime, physical theatre, and choreography. Please see https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iS81bfVFzI4 (‘Lost, Taken, Murdered’) for example of her movement skill &, for example of dance – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yfqeGfjMEqo. Recent TV work includes core cast character, Heather in prison drama series, ‘Clink’ (Channel 5) & Esther in cutting edge comedy series, ‘Jerk’ (BBC3).

Jack is a cinematographer and filmmaker based in Bristol, UK. He has a diverse background spanning theatre and film, and has a wealth of experience in a variety of digital formats, and has created films for cinema, web and 3D theatre projection. Jack has worked as a Director of Photography or Lighting Camera Operator on films for National Theatre, Headlong, Complicité, Bristol Old Vic, Lyric Hammersmith, Raucous, Ad Infinitum, BBC Panorama, amongst many other artistic and commercial organisations.

Ru and Kate launched Stornaway.io after many years of waiting for somebody else to do it first!

Their vision for Stornaway.io is to make it super easy for filmmakers to dream up and deliver fun, complex, multilayered non-linear stories. Without coding, without complexity… with a song in your heart!

 

Tim is a multi-disciplined designer and filmmaker based in Bath. With nearly 20 years of experience in the design industry, Tim runs Weave Creative, offering film production, motion graphics, animation and visual effects. He has a diverse body of work spanning across film, television, web and live events. You can view his work here: www.weave-creative.co.uk

Adam is an editor and filmmaker based in North London. He graduated from an MA in Contemporary Film at UWE, Bristol in 2019 and is currently an Edit Assistant at Splice Post working on TV productions such as ‘Masterchef’ and ‘Made in Chelsea’. You can view his award-winning dissertation video essay ‘Familial Fandom, Father Figures & The Force’ and his editing portfolio at: vimeo.com/adamfarrell

Dan is a Bath based Creative Producer. After completing his Master’s degree in Creative Producing in 2019, Dan has gone onto work with companies locally, Calf2Cow, nationally Critical Moment and internationally, The Invulnerable Nothings.

After graduating with his BA in Drama, Reagan is now currently studying for his Masters in Directing at Bath Spa Univerity. Reagan has worked with the company Ramshackalisoius as an Assitant Director and is now working on directing his own personal projects for the future.

Eleanna has an academic background in education, psychology and technology. Her doctorate explored the relationship between the digital experiences of children and teachers and their use of online websites in the assessment of Maths in Primary Schools. She has worked with 3P Learning and the Department for Education (DfE). She is currently working as a Research Associate for the AHRC Creative Industries Clusters Programme at the University of Bath.

With thanks to representatives from the following schools:

Badminton School, Perse School, Threeways Community Special School, Sefton Park Primary, Milton Primary Acaademy, Shoscombe Primary, Moorlands Primary School, Royal High School, Downside Secondary, Fairfield Secondary, John Mason Secondary, Oldfield Park Secondary, Clevedon Secondary, Cheltenham Ladies College.

James and Laura oversee Theatre Royal Bath’s Education department, working alongside school partners to ensure excellent access to high quality art for young people in the local area.

Sophie is a champion of innate creativity, a theatre-maker and an advocate for creating professional art work with those of all ages.

Currently the Artistic Director with the Theatre School, Sophie oversees the curriculum and directs all public performance and artistic projects. Exceptionally fortunate when in training to be encouraged by teachers and mentors to explore as many different theatrical styles and forms as possible, Sophie is now dedicated to encouraging the same individual exploration of creativity.

Firmly believing in serious playfulness, and playful solemnity, Sophie specialises in puppetry, theatrical anarchy, and joyful pushing of the boundaries.

Producing Partners

The Egg Theatre

The Egg Theatre at Theatre Royal Bath has established itself at the very forefront of professional theatre for children and young people in the UK. It produces, presents and tours outstanding work for children and young people. An uncompromising attitude to quality and artistic process are core in its approach to all activity. The Egg's founder and director is Kate Cross MBE. Kate is also Chair of Assitej UK. Assitej is dedicated to the artistic, cultural and educational rights of children across the globe.

Wales Millennium Centre

Wales Millennium Centre is a furnace of inspiration whose building is nestled in Cardiff Bay, but whose reach is worldwide. By opening its doors as a convener, a digital producer, a storyteller and a creative resource, Wales Millennium Centre prides itself in giving artists, communities and young people in Wales a platform and a voice like no other. It has produced and staged a huge breadth of productions, from operas, plays and musicals to a major festival, while welcoming the world’s best-loved and most successful shows to its stages. As a charity, it is driven to unleash creative potential, and determined that everyone in Wales should call it their home.

Oxford Playhouse

Oxford Playhouse and its Burton Taylor Studio present and produce a wide range of live performance. The programme includes the best of British and international drama, family shows, contemporary dance and music, student and amateur shows, comedy, lectures and poetry. The Playhouse produces and tours its own shows, hosts Artists in Residence and presents Playhouse Plays Out, an ongoing series of off-site events which happen at locations across the county. The theatre's Participation team work with over 15,000 people each year through post show discussions, workshops, work experience, holiday schemes, a youth theatre and a young people’s theatre company.

HOLM

Holm is an international touring theatre company based in Wales and the South West. We create classically inspired new work through a combination of new writing, devising, music and play. The company was founded in 2010 by Jesse Briton and Joe Darke during their training on East 15 Acting School's acclaimed CT course under Uri Roodner.

Innovate UK

Innovate UK is part of UK Research and Innovation, a non-departmental public body funded by a grant-in-aid from the UK government. We drive productivity and economic growth by supporting businesses to develop and realise the potential of new ideas, including those from the UK’s world-class research base.

Stornaway

Ru and Kate launched Stornaway.io after many years of waiting for somebody else to do it first! Our vision for Stornaway.io is to make it super easy for filmmakers to dream up and deliver fun, complex, multilayered non-linear stories. Without coding, without complexity… with a song in your heart! The world is ready for new kinds of stories for the 2020s – and Stornaway.io is here to unlock their creation!

Bristol+Bath Creative R+D

Bristol+Bath Creative R+D is a new, £6.8 million collaboration that aims to raise the bar for the region’s creative industries. The five-year programme seeks to forge connections and partnerships in Bristol and Bath, sharing knowledge, creating crossovers and even greater opportunities in what’s already one of the most vibrant clusters in the UK. This first-of-a-kind collaboration between the region’s four universities - UWE Bristol, Bath Spa, the University of Bath and the University of Bristol - and digital creativity centre Watershed, intends to break down the doors, connecting the worlds of university research and creative business to develop a shared vision for tomorrow’s creative industries.