Unfolding Theatre welcomes three new Creative Associates
Unfolding Theatre is delighted to welcome three new Creative Associates to its core artistic team: Wambui Hardcastle, EJ Raymond and Becci Sharrock.
The new appointments grow the Creative Associates team from three to five, as Wambui, EJ and Becci join existing Creative Associates Alex Elliott and Garry Lydon who have been with the company since 2018.
Unfolding Theatre’s Creative Associates enable the company to deliver a range of creative projects that engage children, young people and communities in meaningful co-creation processes to generate remarkable new theatre and creative experiences for audiences.
Annie Rigby, Artistic Director says:
“I am so excited to welcome Becci, EJ and Wambui to Unfolding Theatre’s core artistic team. I can’t wait to see how they shape our theatre-making in the coming year.”
“As founder of Unfolding Theatre, it means a lot to me to see the company grow. I see the massive contribution every Creative Associate makes to our artistic development.”
“Appointing three new Creative Associates has been a brilliant opportunity to increase the diversity of our artistic team. We are excited to see how Becci, EJ and Wambui’s talents and perspectives enrich Unfolding Theatre’s work.”
“I also want to say a big thank you to everyone who applied to be our Creative Associates. We were bowled over by the quality of applications. We are proud to be based in a region with such a wealth of talent and ambition in co-creating theatre with communities.”
Find out more about Unfolding Theatre’s new Creative Associates below:
Wambui Hardcastle is a young Northern creative, currently based in Newcastle upon Tyne. Mainly creating as a writer, actor, and director, Wambui is always up for the next artistic adventure in whatever form it presents itself as. Wambui credits their current practice to support from companies such as Northern Stage, Eclipse Theatre, and City of Dreams. Currently, with creative partner, poet/musician Eddie Doyle, Wambui is co-creating the R&D period of digital piece In August, Away, with support and seed funding from Greyscale Theatre Company. Wambui is all about making work with big heart and a bit of "umph" with good people trying to make a bit of change.
Wambui says:
“Since 2019, I’ve been fortunate to support Unfolding Theatre in some of their endeavours, and I’m looking forward to spending more time with the Unfolding team in 2022!”
EJ Raymond is freelancer actor, writer & author, BSL advertiser/promoter based in Newcastle upon Tyne. In 2018, they graduated from Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, Glasgow. They have recently written and performed Lockdown Hairy, a short film as part of Deafinitely Theatre’s Talking Hands series. EJ is also the founder of Turtléar, an organisation that supports the deaf community to have greater access to the arts. EJ is profoundly deaf non-binary gay.
EJ says:
“I was over the moon when I was told that I’m going to be working with Unfolding Theatre! I am so excited to share my deaf culture, experience, language and also adventure with them to learn something new!”
Becci Sharrock is a writer, theatre maker, creative producer based in Gateshead. Her socially engaged practice has seen her create short stories and poetry inspired by living legends in Corby; develop theatre show Letters to Myself following six months of public engagement in Sunderland and South Shields and tour it nationally; and run workshops with participants of all ages and backgrounds. She is the Project Producer for New Writing North’s Young Writers’ City Gateshead and in her freelance work, is currently adapting The Secret Garden for the stage, restructuring the creative process to ensure it is accessible.
Previous writing credits include Christmas With the Hobs (Digital Christmas show, Queen’s Hall Hexham, Alnwick Playhouse and The Maltings), Northern Pulse (Film Poem, N18 Programme, GEOTN), Living Legends: Hidden Histories (Published book & exhibition, Made In Corby), Night Trade (Alphabetti Theatre) and Letters to Myself (UK tour).
Becci says:
"I'm over the moon to be joining the Unfolding Theatre team as one of their new Creative Associates. I've been a fan of their work for a long time and I'm especially excited by their commitment to making work with, for and in different communities, which very much chimes with my own practice. I'm looking forward to meeting the rest of the team and cooking up some exciting plans for the future!"
Details about the wider Creative Associates team is available here.