About us...

Why Foulisfair?

'Fair is foul, and foul is fair' - The witches, Macbeth I. I.10

Foulisfair Theatre seeks to express life's constantly shifting values: the hurly-burly, the battles lost and won. We explore experiences that sit awkwardly on a knife edge between happiness and despair, creating pieces that are emotive, visually striking and politically aware. We use movement and language in thought-provoking ways, aiming to stir up our audiences' emotional and intellectual cauldrons, to entertain and engage and occasionally to open the odd can of worms...

The company devises original work, which is often initially inspired by a memory, artwork or idea that inspires us. During the devising process we call in and feed on a wide range of artistic and sometimes factual influences, aiming to create a final product that is both aesthetic and rigorous. We want our work to be inspiring for teenagers and adults, both through the content of the work and the theatrical devices we employ. We consciously select and approach material from our places in the world as women. This helps us as performers to be both engaged and engaging in the theatre we produce.

Originally founded at The Workshop Theatre, University of Leeds, the company is now touring nationally and is based in Gloucestershire.

	Gemma Bolwell - Artistic Director Gemma studied Theatre Studies and English Literature at Glasgow University and Theatre Making at Leeds University Workshop Theatre. She has devised and performed two one woman shows: Canvas at The Carriageworks as part of Ladyfest '07 and Kaleidoscope Morning at The Workshop Theatre and for Leeds Combined Arts. She has also performed with Theatre Company Blah Blah Blah, Leeds Combined Arts and with Mustard Circus at The Met Studio, Leeds. Gemma performed in both versions of The Girl Who Went Out Into the Cold... and directed Daughters. She is performing a new version of Canvas at The Everyman Theatre in January '09 and is devising a new one woman show The Tower for a south west tour in February/March '09 including performances at The Alma Tavern Theatre, Bristol.
	Harriet Chandler Harriet graduated from the Workshop Theatre, Leeds University in 2004. She began devising theatre with Gemma in 2006. She performed in both versions of The Girl Who Went Out Into the Cold... playing Mother and Crow in the second version. She also co-devised and performed in the West Yorkshire tour of Daughters, and will be performing in an extended version of the show at The Everyman Theatre in Cheltenham, January 2009. Harriet is employed by ITV Yorkshire and writes for theatre. She is script-editor for the company.
	Emma Hornby Emma also graduated from the Workshop Theatre in 2004. She made the core company complete in January 2007. She performed in both versions of The Girl Who went Out Into the Cold... playing the Girl in the second version. Emma co-devised and performed in Daughters and will be performing in the extended version in Cheltenham in January '09. In addition to working with Foulisfair Theatre Emma also writes prose and poetry.