Emma Rice

Background

Rice was born in the city of Oxford and grew up in Nottingham.

Career

Formerly, Rice was artistic director of the Kneehigh Theatre in Cornwall, England. She moved to London to study acting at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama and went on to perform at Kneehigh beginning in 1994. Kneehigh Artistic directors Bill Mitchell and Mike Shepherd eventually gave her a shot at directing, and she rose to prominence with ambitious performances that included productions in London"s West End as well as smaller theatres.

Rice says that her long-running production of The Red Shoes represented a turning point in her career when she came into her own.

An adaptation Rebecca (play) directed by Rice is currently on a United Kingdom tour.

Achievements

• Her 2006 production of Shakespeare's Cymbeline drew mixed reviews, but the boldness of her staging won the attention of critics and the industry at large.