other art
WITCHES by Rosie Hilal
A globally feminist gig-theatre show about inspirational women in humanity's collective past
1 photographer (www.katherineleedale.com)
2 weeks' research & development (R&D) in South East London (Longfield Hall) and Manchester (...)
3 artforms (film, music, dance)
4 songs (inspired by Australia's first female inhabitant, NASA's Mary Jackson, Joan of Arc and my Turkish gran
5 artists (Abiola Ogunbiyi, Corina Adrian, Tomas Wolstenholme and myself
WITCHES-R&D shortfilm - 2020
WITCHES - Making Of 2020
Berenice by Jean Racine, in a new translation by Rosie Hilal
I fell in love with this 17th century French classic in five acts studying drama at a conservatoire in Paris. I am, to my knowledge, the first woman and the first middle-eastern one at that, to translate this canonical French play into English.
It was important to me to preserve the strict form of this surprisingly modern tragedy in five acts, respecting the 12-beat rhyming couplets to keep the original rhythm and forward motion of this tragic story of a star crossed love triangle. Based on a regal, historical couple, one might say: it is the story of what might have happened had Romeo and Juliet survived.
I am currently looking to publish - contact me if interested!
BECOMING BERENICE @ VOILA EUROPE THEATRE FESTIVAL - 2018 - Applecart Arts
With Exchange Theatre we produced, I adapted and David Furlong directed a cut, choreographed and music-fuelled festival version under the title of Becoming Berenice. It delighted audiences, British and European alike, and confirmed to us the power of this (in my view) feminist, anti-colonial story.
Cast: Ariane Barnes, Amanda Maud, Cindy-Jane Armbruster, Samuel Lawrence,
Matt Franco and my humble self, Rosie Hilal.
Team: Tomas Wolstenholme, Jennifer Kay, Jose Triguero, Charlie Baptist, Amber Savva, Berta Pibernat, Kai Hoegenacker.
Trailer, making-of & audience responses
Artist in Residence @ Theatre Deli
In December 2016 Theatre Deli accepted me as an artist in residence for a week which gave me the space and time to workshop the translation with a few professional actors: Vivienne Gibbs, Cindy Armbruster, Sarah Twomey and Sarah Kenny.
Research @ Circumference Circus Theatre
I was joined by actress/ producer Imogen Daines and FORGE was born. A feminist theatre collective with a Eurocentric view of the world, and collaborative aspirations. Our first hosts were www.circumference.org , a circus theatre company in the heart of King's Cross. We explored the physical language of the play with help of basic aerial equipment and object transformation exercises. Invited Artists included Cindy-Jane Armbruster, Viv Gibbs and actor-musician Will Wolfe (-Hogan).
To hear more about this week please go to www.theatreforge.com
Script Workshop @ RADA Studios
Thanks to the generous support from the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, dramaturg Lloyd Trott and head Ed kemp, we had a week's script workshop (with three hoops and a scarf) at Rada Studios. We were joined by Rebecca Scroggs, Pia de la Borde , Olivia Vinall and Alexandra Guelff. We also invited Lloyd and Rachel from Santosha Yoga Studio, who guided us through a warm-up yoga session, to watch our staged read-through at the end of the week.
photo www.katherineleedale.com
Funding & Future Plans:
As it is a big show with 6 actors, 6 other creatives, movement and music, we are waiting for the right time to bring this show back, to a wider audience! Please go to the weblink below to meet the cast and team!
PHOTOS BY KATHERINE LEEDALE www.katherineleedale.com
Portraits
Photography:
Reflections
Portraits
Earth&Sky
Music
TRAINING
I am a classically trained soprano (Morley Opera School) and musician (German music school for recorder & piano).
Example song:
CURRENT PROJECTS
Witches
I am writing a one-woman show called Witches with 13 songs about inspiring historical womxn from around the world with electronic and live music arranged by Tomas Wolstenholme.
Example track:
PAST PROJECTS
Becoming Berenice
Tom also made the music to Becoming Berenice (see Projects) at Voila! Europe theatre festival in 2018. it is a mix of electronica, Drum'n'Bass, Eastern/Turkic melodies and Ancient Roman instruments!
Example track:
COLLABORATIONS
The Daughter of the Pomegranate Tree
I have previously had the honour of performing at Hertingfordbury, at the Festival of Chichester and at Dartington Summer School Classical Music festival as a harmony singing story-teller in Merit Ariane's The Daughter of the Pomegranate Tree (www.meritariane.com), together with the experienced Jon Banks, and Nilufar Habibian.