Oxford University BA Hons in Classics (1984-88)
Monika Pagneux and Philippe Gaulier, Movement and Theatre (Paris workshops
1983-85)
Professional Feldenkrais Practitioner Training (Lewes 4)
WORK EXPERIENCE:
Victoria’s experience is broad: as an Actor/Performer in traditional plays, physical theatre, TV and film; as a Devisor/Writer in theatre and Artistic Director of two theatre companies, Tattycoram (1985-88) and the ground breaking ‘physical writing’ company Jade (1992-2006) as well as being a Movement Director, Workshop Leader and Feldenkrais Teacher.
1) Feldenkrais/Movement Direction
Victoria’s movement direction and teaching has grown out of her work and reputation as a physical performer/devisor; her experience as an actor in new plays of all types which gives her a rare understanding of movement in relation to text as well as within the physical theatre tradition and her training as a professional Practitioner of the Feldenkrais Method.
Feldenkrais and Movement Education:
Teaches Feldenkrais part-time on the acting and actor-musician courses at Rose Bruford College since Autumn 2007 (Autumn terms only)
Taught Feldenkrais part-time on the drama course at Birmingham School of Acting Autumn 2006 – Easter 2007 (as cover for maternity leave).
Teaches a weekly Feldenkrais class and monthly workshops in London, currently at The Haelan Centre and YMCA Fitness Centre in Crouch End N8
Has a Feldenkrais practice for individual hands-on sessions in N London.
One-off Feldenkrais sessions or Feldenkrais-based movement workshops eg recently for Royal Opera House (Covent Garden), Clean Break Theatre Company and Northampton Theatre Royal
Led/co-led workshops in physical theatre and movement for Jade and for others eg. a 2-week summer school ‘Dreamwork’ for Islington council plus a series for 50 members of the Department of Trade and Industry (with business creative development company ‘Wonderworks.’)
Movement direction:
'Smashed Eggs' - Northampton Theatre Royal and previously Pentabus,
new comedy for young people by Phil Porter
'Singh Tangos' - Kali, new asian comedy by Bettina Gracia about
sexuality and integration (Small-scale tour and the Riverside Studios)
'Missing/Crossing' - Pentabus - 2 new plays with a strong subtext
dealing with female sexuality in poor white S. Africa by Reza de Wet (small
scale touring).
'On the Slate' - Pentabus - comedy by stand-up Janice Conolly (small-scale
touring)
'Shot Through the Heart' - Pentabus - large site-specific piece
by Bryony Lavery for 150 young people and professionals with a Punjabi band
at Ludlow castle.
'The Burial of the Dead' AYT - site-specific, piece for 15 young
people, heavy machinery & a ton of shingle. It won a Barclays Youth Award
and was re-worked for Liverpool Playhouse for International Youth Festival
'Brouhaha'
'The Turn of the Screw' - Birmingham Rep
2) Acting/Performing
Almost all Victoria's acting work has been in that place where physicality
and text meet. She has:
worked closely for many years with writer Sarah Woods in exactly this area: first in Sarah’s play for Birmingham Rep: ‘Nervous Women’ and then under the banner of her own company Jade, notably playing Grace in the award-nominated hit comedy ‘Grace’ and Mum in the equally acclaimed ‘Cake’.
worked with artists and companies including Andrew Dawson, Gavin Robertson, Annie Griffin, Neil Bartlett, Steve Tiplady, Lumiere and Son, Pentabus and many others.
toured extensively with her own solo work (including 'Make me
a Statue') and with 80s cult women's performance company Tattycoram
as well as most of Jade's shows.
Other new work has included: 'Turn of the Screw' (The
Governess), 'Grapes of Wrath' (Rose of Sharon) at the Birmingham
Rep; James Maxwell's 'Don Carlos' (The Queen) and the first
production of Andrew Davies's 'Prin' (Melanie) both at the
Lyric, Hammersmith in London as well as lead performances in new plays at
the Gate in Notting Hill, Leicester Haymarket and elsewhere.
TV/film includes 'The Guide to Parenting', 'Hardware',
'Blue Murder', 'How Do You Want Me', 'Archer's
Goon', Ken Russell's 'Prisoner's of Honor'.
Radio includes 5 plays by Sarah Woods.
3) Writing and Co-devising
Solo show 'Make Me a Statue' at the ICA, Glasgow Mayfest
and on tour plus all Tattycoram's work (national touring)
'Lift and Separate' in Small objects of Desire'
for Soho Theatre
'And All Because the Lady Loves' and 'Night Train'
for Jade (Belgrade, Coventry, Lyric Hammersmith and national tour).
Member of Jade collaboration team on 'Grace', 'Cake'
and like Candyfloss' by Sarah Woods ( several national tours and London
including the Arts, Leicester Square)
'On the Run' a research project developed by Jade and
Company FZ involving artists such as Orit Azaz, Mathilda Lyser and Joyce Henderson
as well as John-Paul Zaccarini and Flick Ferdinando of Company FZ.
Winner of Bridport International Prize for short fiction 2000.
Publications:
'Lift and Separate' in 'Mythic Women/Real Women'
(play) Faber and Faber
'Giddy, Stick and the Beach-hut' (Bridport Award -winning
short story 2000) Sansom
'Amusez-vous Merde' (article in Jaques Lecoq issue of
Contemporary Theatre Review).
'Grace' and 'Cake' written by Sarah Woods
from a collaboration with Jade is published by Oberon
REFEREES
Keith Barlow (Head of Physical Skills)
Birmingham School of Acting (UCE)
Millennium Point,
Birmingham,
B4 7XG
Tel: 0121 331 7220
Garet Newell
Director of Feldenkrais International Training Centre
PO Box 1207
Hove
East Sussex
BN3 2GG
Tel: 01273 327406
Peter Bramley (head of movement)
Rose Bruford College
Burnt Oak Lane
Sidcup
Kent
DA15
020 8308 2600