LEISA REA
Other than Ukuleles
Before full-time orchestral duties, I was an actor, director, comedy writer/performer and teacher. Past solo writing/performing work includes ‘Pension Plan – a Mardi Gras for the Mildly Depressed‘
‘A gorgeous mess of mixed stupidity and wandering genius‘
[SNIPE]
‘From random victory jigs to foetus-shaped biscuits… it’s a pleasure to see a middle-aged lady dicking about‘
[THE LIST]
I followed that with a show about creative procrastination called ‘B*stard Legs & Other Shows I Haven’t Written‘, where I treated the audience to pizza and unhinged dancing.
‘Rubber-legged joy‘
‘Rea is at her best when she’s her natural haphazard self – a trait she woos and turns into comedy with an ample supply of self-deprecation‘
[FRINGE REVIEW]
As well as making solo work, I’ve taught Stand Up Comedy at the Soho Theatre London and directed some highly acclaimed shows for other comedians including: Jen Brister, Jack Rooke & Lizzie Roper.
Before that, I was one half of the double-act, Adams & Rea. Together we wrote & performed comedy songs, gigged nationally, appeared on BBC Radio 4 and BBC Radio 7 and won the Musical Comedy Awards in 2009. It seemed only right after that - to quit and go our seperate ways!
For a couple of seasons, I was a fixture of cult comedy Victorian sideshow act, The Congress of Oddities, for whom I regularly transformed into superfreak The Biscuit-Eyed Lady.
I also worked with a pre-famous Miranda Hart back then. I did a couple of theatre projects with her, wrote on her BBC Radio show, (Joke Shop), and later on a couple of episodes of the BAFTA nominated Miranda.
I’ve been an associate artist with shape-shifters Clod Ensemble, and a creative consultant for several arts organisations, including coaching a ‘clown band’ for the 70th Anniversary show ‘Holiday on Ice’.
For relaxation, I play in an all female rockband with my friends. Partly, because I can’t afford golf clubs.
'Rea has an unerring eye for the absurd.'
{THE ARTS DESK}