Ursula Early CV

uearly@hotmail.co.uk /07818225806/115 Manor Road, London E17 5RY

Ursula Early is the Artistic Director of Big Bear Theatre Company (BBTC) and an independent Director and Creative
Producer. She is an Associate Producer for the Production Exchange.
Current position: August 2015 December 2015 (short term contract): Post Production Coordinator on Dickensian
and Death In Paradise for BBC/Red Planet Pictures.
Producing and Directing
Currently in development:
2015/2016: Director: currently developing a new project based on Pippi Longstocking (BBTC)
2014 Creative Producer: Desdemona: a play about a handkerchief at Park Theatre (BBTC in association with Park
Theatre)
2013-2014 Director/Creative Producer: Laugh Your Farce Off, commissioned a regular night of new short farces at
Pleasance London (Main House) and Pleasance Two, Edinburgh Festival (BBTC)
2013 Producer: My Imaginary Friend Patrick Stewart by Jon Brittain:
- Research and development funded by Old Vic New Voices
- Shortlisted for the Charlie Hartill Reserve Award
2012 Producer: Dead Pile Old Vic New Voices TS Elliot US/UK Exchange project, Old Vic Studio
Main responsibilities:
- Producing and organising an invited industry showcase for a new American play by Laura Jacqmin
- Assisting Old Vic New Voices team to market and promote the event
2011-2012 Associate Producer: World Premiere of Guest Suites
A UK tour of a site-specific music and dance project Clore Studio, Royal Opera House and York Minster
2011 Producer: World Premiere of Double Indignity
BBTC in association with Bridewell Theatre. Funded by Goldsmiths Livery Company
2010-2011 Producer: A Bold Stroke for A Husband - Arts Council England funded tour, Theatre Royal Bury St
Edmunds and Bridewell Theatre (BBTC)
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Teaching and workshop facilitator
2014 Acting teacher at City Academy - Adult Acting
2015 - Workshop leader for Green Candle Dance Companys older person dance sessions including participants with
dementia
2010- Workshop leader and facilitator for all BBTCs productions parallel education programmes (school, college and
university groups)
2010- One-to-one acting coaching (drama school prep and audition technique)
2008, Workshop facilitator, Scary Little Girls (Key Stage 3-5)
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Courses and Training
2015: Level 3 OCNLR Accredited Course: Leading Dance for Older People
April 2012: Stage One New Commercial Producers Workshop
2008: Kneehigh CPD Summer Workshops: Site Specific Theatre (at their base in Cornwall)
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Education
2002-2005 Guildhall School Of Music & Drama: 2:1 BA (Hons) Acting
1999-2001 LASWAP Sixth form: 3 x A-Levels: Politics A, Theatre Studies B, History C
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What the reviewers say about Big Bear Theatre productions:
Desdemona: a play about a handkerchief (Park Theatre)
4****"A stylish production...with brains heart and courage in this parallel story." Everything Theatre
4****Desdemona offers viewers a hilarious evenings entertainment The Upcoming
4**** touching and hilarious but also brutally honest Plays to See
incredibly funny and touching, a female tour-de-force.you feel enchanted, inspired and disappointed by the
shortness of it A Younger Theatre
Blessed by a trio of delightful performances. The Stage
Brilliant actingthis production conjures both the freedom of an all-female environment and the emotional and
physical constrictedness that Shakespeare imposed on these female characters. Exuent
Laugh Your Farce Off (Pleasance London and Edinburgh)
Laugh Your Farce Off is terrific fun to watch and the night has a friendly and exuberant vibe about it. True to the
nature of farce, each script had the power to surprise and shock" A Younger Theatre
"Bringing farcical comedy into the 21st Century" Public Reviews

A Bold stroke For A Husband (Theatre Royal Bury St Edmunds and Bridewell Theatre)
4****Whatsonstage
A near-perfect show...Almost unbelievably, this is Big Bear's first production....definitely a theatre company to
watch. The Stage
"A cracking first production from Big Bear, a new production company with an eye on bringing new perspectives to
both period and modern pieces. Recommended." There Ought To be Clowns
Double Indignity (Bridewell Theatre)
4****A sumptuously dark comedy that will leave you feeling gratified and just a little bit naughty Spoonfed
4**** Without pretence, without an excess set, the performance was truly an inspiration to fringe theatre.
Remote Goat