Rikki Beadle-Blair: Difference between revisions
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|name=Rikki Beadle-Blair |
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|image=[[Image:Rikkibeadleblair.jpg|thumb|center|Rikki Beadle-Blair speaking at the pre-launch of [[LGBT History Month]] 08 at the [[Royal Courts of Justice]] - 26 November 2007]] |
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|birth_date={{birth year and age|1961}} |
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|birth_place=Camberwell, London, England |
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|parents=Monica Beadle |
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|relatives=[[Gary Beadle]] |
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|occupation=[[Actor]], [[director]], [[writer]] |
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He was brought up by his single mother, |
He was brought up by his single mother, Monica Beadle (born 1944). She was born in [[Jamaica]] and moved to [[United Kingdom|Britain]] when she was 12. She was the first black child in her school in [[Peckham]].{{cn|date=April 2013}} |
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Rikki was brought up with a brother, [[Gary Beadle |
Rikki was brought up with a brother, [[Gary Beadle]] (also an actor, of Eastenders fame), 4 years younger, and a sister, 8 years younger. He attended Lois Thompson née Acton's Experimental Bermondsey Lampost Free School.{{cn|date=April 2013}} |
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==Career== |
==Career== |
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Revision as of 02:54, 10 June 2013
 | This biographical article is written like a résumé. (April 2010) |
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (April 2013) |
Rikki Beadle-Blair | |
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| Born | 1961 (age 62–63) Camberwell, London, England |
| Occupation(s) | Actor, director, writer |
| Parent | Monica Beadle |
| Relatives | Gary Beadle |
Rikki Beadle-Blair (born in July 1961, in Camberwell and raised in Bermondsey, both in south London) is a British actor, director, screenwriter, playwright, singer, aerobics teacher, designer, choreographer/dancer and songwriter of West Indian origin.
Early life
He was brought up by his single mother, Monica Beadle (born 1944). She was born in Jamaica and moved to Britain when she was 12. She was the first black child in her school in Peckham.[citation needed]
Rikki was brought up with a brother, Gary Beadle (also an actor, of Eastenders fame), 4 years younger, and a sister, 8 years younger. He attended Lois Thompson née Acton's Experimental Bermondsey Lampost Free School.[citation needed]
Career
When he was 17 he did a capella concerts at the Gay's The Word bookshop in Bloomsbury, London, with fellow singers Robert Chevara and Michelle Baughan. The group went under the name of 'Three People'. He was also involved with the Gay Liberation Front (GLF).
Beadle-Blair has worked as a dancer, a cabaret artist, a rock musician, an actor, a choreographer, and a director. In the film Sirens he played Blue, a punky Scouse heroin junkie.
His band 'Boysie' included Sean Mayes on piano, Leonard Davies on bass, Baden Hill on guitar and Martin Harmer on Drums
In 1994, Beadle-Blair wrote the screenplay for Nigel Finch's film Stonewall, about the Stonewall Riots.
In 1999 Beadle-Blair wrote "Native", a Radio 4 play that became a short film directed by Rene Mohandas.
In 2000 Beadle-Blair wrote and performed a series of short radio plays for Radio 4 - including 'Fares Fair', 'Puppy Love', 'Finders Keepers', 'Silly Me' and 'Open Pores'.
In 2001 he adapted Boy George's autobiography Take It Like A Man for a BBC film. This has not yet been produced.
In March 2001, he wrote, produced, and directed the Channel 4 television series Metrosexuality in which he also played a lead role. This also featured Noel Clarke, who went on to write and star in the movie Kidulthood. Beadle-Blair co-wrote and co-produced the soundtrack album with Mark Hawkes. On the album he sings a duet with Davie Fairbanks who played "Bambi" in the series. Noel Clarke contributes two raps to the album, which also features a track performed by Mat Fraser.
The same year, he hosted the Big Up Yourself And Be Proud show at The Brixtonian during Mardi Gras Festival in aid of GMFA, a London based gay men's health charity whose Big Up initiative (targeting black men), he is supporting.
In 2002, his documentary Roots of Homophobia, for BBC Radio 4 won the Sony Radio Academy Awards for Best Radio Feature. There he brings his own experience as a gay black man to inform his investigation into homophobic attitudes in Jamaican pop music.
He was the Executive story editor for both seasons of the US TV series Noah's Arc'. He was also a writer on season two (credited for eps 2 & 4)
He was supervising director for the South African organisation for first time filmmakers Out of Africa. in 2004 and 2005
Beadle-Blair has written songs for Kevin Marques. His Theatre company, Team Angelica, is resident at the Tristan Bates Theatre in Covent Garden, London.[citation needed]
In 2005, Beadle-Blair wrote and directed the play 'Bashment' for Theatre Royal Stratford East, this tackled homophobia in the Ragga/hip-hop music scene. The play ran two seasons in May and September. Beadle-Blair also wrote the music. The play was nominated for "Best New Play" at the national TMA Awards.
Beadle-Blair has adapted his own screenplay of Stonewall for the stage and his production company Team Angelica which he took to the 2007 Edinburgh Festival. He also directed, produced, designed both sets & costumes, & choreographed on the show. The play was nominated for "Best Ensemble" at The Stage Awards for Acting Excellence.[1]
In May 2006, Beadle-Blair wrote and directed 'Jucy' for Queer Contact at the Contact Theatre in Manchester, as part of the Queer Up North Festival.
In Autumn, 2007, FIT, a play for young people commissioned by the Manchester-based arts organisation queerupnorth and the gay equality organisation Stonewall, went on tour around the UK. The play was developed to help tackle homophobic bullying in Britain's schools.[2] The play was performed at The Drill Hall in London, The Birmingham Rep, The Contact Theatre in Manchester, the Unity Theatre in Liverpool, and the CCA in Glasgow. The show was also performed in Schools in London, Greater Manchester, Bournemouth, Brighton & Glasgow. Beadle-Blair, directed, choreographed, composed and wrote the show.
Beadle-Blair's 'painful' comedy play 'Familyman' opened for a month at Theatre Royal Stratford East in May 2008 - the lead Role of 'Caesar Ramsay' was being played by Gary Beadle, his brother. The play was named 'Show of the Week' for Time Out.[citation needed]
In May 2008 Beadle-Blair directed 'Best Man' by Greg Owen at the Dublin Gay Theatre Festival.[citation needed] Greg Owen won the Oscar Wilde Award for New Writing. The play was developed under the Team Angelica umbrella.
Beadle-Blair previewed a trio of new plays in June 2008, Screwface - about nine teenage murderers in a prison drama workshop, Touch - centred around gay life in Iraq today, and Home - which looked at teenagers emerging from the care system into their own accommodation and sperm donor offspring who are searching for their siblings.
In October-Nov 2008 there was a second shorter but more high-profile tour of 'Fit', touring to Edinburgh, Birmingham, Liverpool and London - This included shows at St Stephen's in Edinburgh, The Birmingham Rep and the Drill Hall Theatres. At one point there was minor controversy in the Media - with articles in the Daily Mail and Guardian Online.[citation needed]
In Nov 2008 Beadle-Blair was the M.C. for the 'Liverpool is Burning' Vogue Ball at the Adelphi Ballroom in Liverpool, produced by 'Duckie' for Homotopia.
In January 2009 Team Angelica, in association with the fledgling Achilles Productions, founded by actors Ian Sharp and Rebecca Joerin staged one off theatrical presentation of Beadle-Blair screenplay 'KickOff' at the Riverside Studios in Hammersmith.
In February 2009 Beadle-Blair curated 'Louder than Words' at the Tristan Bates Theatre; a season of new writing featuring 14 plays by mostly[weasel words] first time writers. He directed 10 of the plays.
Beadle-Blair has a long-standing creative association with fellow writer John R Gordon, who was also a writer for Noah's Arc. Beadle-Blair Directed John's first short film script 'Souljah' (2007) Which premiered in the London Film Festival and is currently touring the Film Festival circuit. He also appeared in John first play 'Wheels of Steel', Which John R Gordon directed. The two-hander also featured Karl Collins - who went on to play Beadle-Blair's Ex-husband 'Jordan' in Metrosexuality.
Beadle-Blair has helped to develop new work by playwrights, Matt Harris, Jai Rajani, John R. Gordon, Greg Owen, Stephen Hoo & Hannah Chalmers.[citation needed]
Beadle-Blair regularly teaches a six-week course at the Actor's Centre called 'In the Room' that mentors Actors and creatives. He has developed an advanced module called 'Seizing the Room'.
In June 2008 Beadle-Blair was included in the Independent On Sunday newspaper's 'Pink List' as one of the UK's most powerful/influential gay people.
In July 2008 -Beadle-Blair's short film Souljah won the award for best short film at the Rushes Soho Shorts festival. Written by John Gordon and produced by Beadle-Blair, Gordon and Carleen Beadle.
In June 2009 Beadle-Blair hosted the Urban Stage at London Pride.
In June 2009 Beadle-Blair completed the 35min short '7 Dials' in which the lives of 33 characters intersect and intertwine in the Seven Dials area of London's Covent Garden. Beadle-Blair wrote and directed this showcase for the participants of BBC Talent Boost - A scheme to increase visibility for minority actors in the UK.
In June/July 2009 Beadle-Blair shot the feature film Kickoff - a Team Angelica co-production with Achilles Entertainments and Shorthouse Productions. Post-production was completed in Nov 2009.
In August or 2009 - Beadle-Blair was a course director at the National Youth Theatre for the second year running.
In September 2009 - Beadle-Blair wrote and directed, the Feature-Film/DVD version of 'Fit' featuring the original cast members, along with 36 other actors. The film was financed by Stonewall, and produced by Diane Shorthouse, Carleen Beadle and Rikki Beadle-Blair for Stonewall, The Shorthouse Organisation and Team Angelica.
On November 19, 2009 - Beadle-Blair/Team Angelica staged a double-bill of plays at the Drill Hall Theatre - 'Fucking Charlie' and 'The Grope Box.'
In December 2009 - Beadle-Blair directed 'Stripped' at the Tristan Bates Theatre, written and performed by Hannah Chalmers. 'Stripped' was originally written and developed with the guidance of Beadle-Blair and John R Gordon as part of the 'Louder than Words' season in February. Stripped ran for a month in Edinburgh at the Gilded Balloon.[citation needed]
In June 2010 Beadle-Blair wrote and directed the feature-film version of Bashment featuring many members of the original cast.
In Dec 2010 Beadle-Blair wrote and directed the Team Angelica production twothousandandSex - featuring 35 actors - at the Drill Hall Theatre.
In March 2011 Beadle-Blair was awarded an achievement award by the Outfest/Fusion festival in Los Angeles. The award was presented by Guillermo Diaz, who played LaMiranda in the movie of Stonewall at Grauman's Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood. The ceremony was accompanied by a gala screening of 'Fit'.[citation needed]
In April 2011 Beadle-Blair was commissioned by The Royal Albert Hall to write direct and design the short film 'Butterfly'. It was based the winning entries from a schools competition in which students had to pitch a modern version of 'Madam Butterfly'.
In October–November 2011 Beadle-Blair wrote,directed and designed Shalom Baby at Theatre Royal Stratford East.
In November 2011,Beadle-Blair along with John R Gordon established Team Angelica Books. Its first publication was Beadle-Blair's first book 'What I Learned Today' compiled from a years worth of his Facebook statuses.
Plays
His plays include: 'Kick-Off' - Jan 2009 Riverside Studios 'Fit' (Autumn 2008) St Stephen's Edinburgh, Birmingham Rep Theatre, Drill Hall Theatre and Schools in Liverpool, Edinburgh and London 'Home' Tristan Bates Theatre (June 2008) 'Touch' Tristan Bates Theatre (June 2008) Screwface Tristan Bates Theatre (June 2008) 'Familyman' Theatre Royal Stratford East (May 2008, directed by Dawn Reid)
- FIT (2007) National Tour - adapted for film[3]
- Stonewall (2006/7) - stage adaptation of the BBC film
Taken In (2005) Set in a halfway house for homeless youths.
- Bashment (2005) - explores the controversy around dancehall reggae music and the consequences of homophobic lyrics - Theatre Royal Stratford East
- Totally Practically Naked In My Room On A Wednesday Night (2005) - a night in the life of 17 year old Dylan, desperate to lose his virginity.
- the South London Passion Plays trilogy (Gutted, Laters and Sweet) (2004) Tristan Bates Theatre
- Captivated (1997) - the story of a gay black man imprisoned for murder. Shane corresponds with an Asian pen pal who writes him as an act of charity. Shane’s self-hatred turns into a soul-searching journey from cockiness to agonized self-reflection, and finally ultimate gratitude for his unseen friend. This was released on video (now deleted) Directed by David Squire
'Ask and Tell' - homosexuality and the Army. twothousandandSex - an esemble play about sex and sexuality featuring 35 actors - at the Drill Hall Theatre. Four one hour ensemble plays 'Exposures' 'Street Art' 'The Grope Box' 'Fucking Charlie'
'Below the Radar' A straight guy/gay guy pair of roommates and their sexual misadventures in New Orleans.
- Human - Two terminally ill cancer patients get together for a final riotous love affair.
- Prettyboy Described as a 'Dogma Style Musical" at the Oval House Theatre.
- Gunplay (He did not direct)
- Wild At Heart Riverside Studios (1988)
He directed Greg Owen and Nick McGarrigle in their play 'Best Man' at the Dublin Gay Theatre Festival. The play won the writers the Oscar Wilde Award for best writing.
He directed and appeared in Matt Harris's comedy play 'Venom' at the Oval house '2003'
He directed the staged readings of Jai Rajani's 'onenight.com' at the Tristan Bates and the Contact Theatre Manchester in 2007
He performed as part of the 40th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots at the Southbank Centre. Other speakers/performers included Professor Jeffrey Weeks, Peter Tatchell, Lindsay River, and Michael Twaits. July 9.
See also
References
- ^ "The Stage / Edinburgh 2009". Thestage.co.uk. Retrieved 2010-03-18.
- ^ Article on QueerUpNorth.com, 2008 archive version.
- ^ IMDb entry
External links and sources
- Personal MySpace
- Team Angelica MySpace
- Rikki Beadle-Blair at IMDb
- The Guardian: Theatre that's FIT for purpose: tackling homophobia - November 2008
- Pink News: FIT playwright on why we must fight homophobia in schools - December 2007 (republished November 2008)
- Interview on Rainbow Network - 6 June 2005
- Rikki Beadle-Blair on ‘Metrosexuality’
- interview in Closer Magazine - April 2002 ?
- script of Roots of Homophobia (scroll down to No 6)
- Interview of Beadle-Blair in the Independent - August 2007
- Interview of Beadle-Blair in the Guardian - August 2007
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