Leo Kay

Leo Kay - Artistic Director

Leo Kay is a dance theatre practitioner who writes, performs, teaches and choreographs independently, for venues and for theatre companies.

Movement Direction & Choreography

  • “Speakers’ Corner” lyrical theatre production presented by Don Letts. November 2007.
  • “Journeyman” physical theatre show. Music direction by James Fortune. Hackney Empire, 2007.
  • “I Hear Voices”, a literary project with three emerging performance poets: Samira Arhin-Acquaah, Ben Mellor and Martin Stannage working alongside Shabina Aslam with music by Jason Singh, and sound design by Dan Steele.
  • “Savage Love”, assistant director to Philip Mackenzie on an experimental stage performance by Sam Shepard and Joseph Chaikin working with the Sherman Youth Theatre.
  • “Grace”, Quarantine Theatre, directed by Richard Gregory. Manchester, 2005.
  • “Weeding Cane”, direction of first manifestation of show. Written by Sonia Hughes, performed at the Green Room, Manchester, 2003.
  • “Beyond Words”, Salvador, Brazil, 2002.
  • “Ulises”, Villa Danca company, Salvador, Brazil, 2002.
  • “Sowhatyasayin”, Contact Young Actors Company, written by Sonia Hughes. Commonwealth collaboration with Kaittaikuttu Sangam Kancheepuram (India), Contacting The World Festival, Manchester, 2002.
  • “Figure”, a one-man aerial show for Jamie Quarell, London, 2001.
  • “Extraordinary Ways of Loving”, part direction of one-woman show for Meran Vargens, Salvador Brazil, 2001.
  • “Gentleman of Krakov”, Dublin, 1998.

Independent Production

Scripted, choreographed & performed by Leo kay.
  • “You Cant Run Away From Yourself” (working title) creation of scratch idea for future solo show. Ideas generated within choreographic process with Yasmin Godder, Summer 2007.
  • “Mr Sole Abode”. A solo show directed by Benji Reid, sound design by Dan Steel, lighting design by Jackie Shemesh and set design by Gavin Glover of Faulty Optic. Produced by Talita Moffat. Support received from Weekend Arts college, Contact Theatre and The Arts Council England.
  • “A Geographic”, dance theatre solo with live music composed by Marc Brown, additional direction by R. Bunzl. Performed at the Oval House Theatre, Weekend Arts College 25th Anniversary Festival and Battersea Arts Centre October Fest 2004.
  • “Stop”, dance theatre solo with live music composed by Marc Brown & Sam Thomas, additional direction by R. Bunzl performed at Resolutions at The Place, The Almeida Dance Festival, The Big Party. 2001-2003.

Performance

  • Performer and co-creator for the restaging of “The Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra” with the London Philharmonic Orchestra and Eugene Skeef. The Barbican and QEH London, 2007.
  • Performer of “Mr Sole Abode”, a solo show directed by Benji Reid with stage design by Faulty Optic and sound by Dan Steele. The Lyric Theatre Hammersmith and Contact Theatre Manchester, 2007.
  • Core performer, “Voices of The City”, an international research and performance project directed by Ron Bunzl, Amsterdam 2005-06.
  • ‘Man’ in “The Ballad”, clown two-hander directed by Johnathan Campbell. Aye Productions, 2005.
  • The Golden Monkey in Phillip Pullman & Nick Hytner’s “His Dark Materials”, The Royal National Theatre 2004-2005.
  • Professor McFee in Tom Stoppard’s “Jumpers”, The Royal National Theatre and Picadilly Theatre 2003-2004.
  • Narrator, “The Young persons Guide To the Orchestra” and a performance homage to Charlie Chaplin, both with The London Philharmonic Orchestra, RFH London, 2003-2004.
  • Performer “Come Midnight I’m Gone”, A two-hander alongside Jake Aldershaw, inspired by the film Midnight Cowboy. Collaboration with Belgian Guitar band COEM. Performed in clubs and music venues in England and Belgium. Project mentor Wendy Houston of DV8.
  • Performer in “Tarzan” directed by Philip Mackenzie, Dubai, 2000.
  • Performer in “Go Behind”. Gisela Rocha Cia (dance theatre company), Zurich, 2000-2002.
  • Various Capoeira presentations for Capoeira Norte & Urban Expansions, 2000-2002.
  • Macbeth, Stage Of Blood with Theatre Laboratory of Manipur. Watermans Arts Centre 1998.
  • Core performer & teacher, Kaos Theatre, 1994-1999.