C.V. Rebecca Simpson
Born
in England in 1960 she is a writer, actor, teacher and translator.
Studied English Literature at Cambridge University, B.A. Hons.
(1983) and M.A., and Spanish Language Cambridge University, CCK
(1981). Studied at Barcelona Theatre Institute (1986-88). She has a
post-graduate diploma in Dance Movement Therapy from Barcelona’s
Autonomous University (2008).
Writing studies: José Sanchís Sinisterra, April de Angelis, Willem Bruhls, Händl Klaus.
Theatre
With Cambridge Experimental Theatre, (1982-86), performed in, co-wrote, directed or produced a total of 17 productions: including Shakespeare’s Macbeth, Othello, Hamlet, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, King Lear, some of which toured widely in the U.K. and Europe; and original shows, among others: Tartarus – a short history of the world ; Crows, (about the extermination of the Tasmanian aborigines); 1917 or Admiral Dubrovnik Takes a Bath (about the Russian Revolution); New Jerusalem (about a 19th century alternative community in the Cambridgeshire Fens).
Actor and deviser/writer with the groups: Konic Teatre, Barcelona (Atzur, Sitges International Theatre Festival and UK, and Blanc de Nit, Barcelona Biennal 1990); Ralf Ralf, London (The Night is not Dark, Gate Theatre, London), Magdalena Project, Cardiff (Midnight Level 6, Chapter Arts Centre, Cardiff, and UK); Ateliers du Chaudron, Paris (Variations pour Narcisse et Echo); Versión Original Theatre Company, Barcelona (Northanger Abbey, Festival Grec 2000/Teatre Malic).
Author of New Jerusalem, for Camb. Experimental Theatre (1985); Juana, 12 monologues for 6 actors, (1994); and Punksnotdead (Teatre Malic, Barcelona, 2002).
Opera
She wrote the libretto for the opera Juana, with music by Enric Palomar, (co-production Opernhaus Halle - Gran Teatre del Liceu - Festival of New and Pocket Opera – Romea Theatre Foundation), premiered in Halle, Germany in June 2005 and performed at the Romea Theatre in Barcelona and Darmstadt State Opera. She has recently finished the libretto “Tales of Liberation”, based on her original idea and commissioned by Den Ny Opera, Denmark; with music by Andy Pape, directed by Daniel Bohr, the opera will premiere in autumn 2012.
In 2003 she performed the Narrator in Façade by E. Sitwell/William Walton, and directed the chamber opera Sávitri by Gustav Holst, (both with Òpera de Tres Rals, Gran Teatro de la Maestranza, Seville).
Translation
Among other works, she has translated Empties by Catalan playwright Lluïsa Cunillé, (Obrador, Sala Beckett, Barcelona, 2007) and Beatriz Aguiar’s songs for the Connecting Cultures record label. She made the final English singing version of Andy Pape’s opera “Till Death Us Do…”, and is translating “Amurada” by Cinta Massip.
Teaching
She has developed her own method of integrated bodywork “All Through the Body”.
