Leah Cooper

Artistic Director and founding member



Leah Briony Cooper graduated from the MA at RADA. She has also trained and worked in the United States, where she holds citizenship. Notable credits include: Belleville Rendezvous with Fellswoop Theatre at The Greenwich Theatre and on tour at the Triskell Theatre, First the Music then the Words (The Greenwich Playhouse and The Arcola), As You Like It, Pericles and The Twelfth Night (Elayne Bernstein Theatre), The Promise (Soho Theatre). She played Titania/Hippolyta in Whistlestop's production of A Midsummer Night's Dream. Although she is now a London resident Leah is a Yorkshire lass born and bred and loves returning to the land of steel, socialism, and male strippers.

Rebecca Hewett

Artistic Director and founding member

 

Rebecca Louise Hewett completed her undergraduate degree in English and Drama at Goldsmiths College, University of London and went on to get her MA in Text and Performance at RADA, in which she focused on devising work and directing. Since graduating Rebecca Set up Whistlestop Theatre with Leah and has been directing their shows, midsummer nights dream, twelfth night and bobby d  by sebastian baczkiewicz in collaboration  with rift theatre and their shakespeare in shoreditch project. she has also  been directing for new writing nights at the last refuge and southwark playhouse as well as working extensively in television. Her most recent tv shows include miranda, up the women, eastenders, citizen khan and still open all hours. She has also been running workshops for young people for the national youth theatre and ideastap.

 

THE STORY SO FAR...

 

Whistlestop Theatre Company are a new and exciting company composed of young talent from throughout the U.K.

we are female-led and our primary objective is to create innovative, original, entertaining and above all accessible theatre, with a keen eye to immersion, interactivity and creativity on a shoestring budget. We keep it fresh and original through creative collaboration. We work as a company always, and although not specifically a devising company, we not only welcome, but depend on the input of the people we work with.

 

We are primarily based out of London but hail from many regions and each of the company members brings their own set of skills and unique capabilities. Our premier production was a retelling and reshaping of a familiar classic with a twist, produced for a modern audience, shakespeare's 'a midsummer night's dream'. What started out as an idea grew into a full scale touring production that saw us perform in various london venues including the red lion theatre, the barons court theatre, the courtyard theatre as well as appearing at secret garden party and leefest. through the constant process of adaptation we were able hone our skills and showcase the innovation and imagination of our company.

 

after midsummer the show and company blossomed and we continued with the theme of retelling classics after being commissioned by the bussey buidling to create and produce our second shakespeare 'twelfth night, or what you will.' although we are not specifically a shakespeare company we relished the opportunity to sink our teeth into and adapt such powerful text. we were fortunate enough to get a transfer to the white bear theatre in august.

 

Our next stop on the whistlestop tour was a collaboration with award-winning theatre company rift that which saw us produce our very first piece of new writing as part of the shakespeare in shoreditch festival, october 2014. the play in question is 'bobby d', written by bbc writer in residence sebastian baczkiewiez. we were very excited to be a part of this incfredible immersive theatre project and hope you will join us at the next stop...

 

Our aim is to entertain and excite, and we are passionate about integrating the audience into the theatrical experience and breaking down the old fourth wall. we believe many minds are greater than one and it’s easier to carry props with multiple pairs of hands. If you are interested in our work or our productions please do not hesitate to get in contact as we are always welcome to fresh faces, ideas, and feedback!