Rikki Beadle-Blair
Richard Barrington "Rikki" Beadle-Blair MBE is a British actor, director, and playwright. He is the artistic director of multi-media production company Team Angelica.
Early life
Beadle-Blair was born in Camberwell and raised in Bermondsey, both in south London, England, by a single mother, Monica. Rikki was brought up with a brother, Gary Beadle, and a sister. He attended Lois Acton's Experimental Bermondsey Lampost Free School and, later, Old Vic Youth Theatre.Career
Beadle-Blair wrote the screenplay for the 1995 feature film Stonewall. He adapted his own screenplay of Stonewall for the stage and his production company Team Angelica, which he took to the 2007 Edinburgh Festival. He also directed, produced, designed both sets and costumes, and choreographed on the show. The play was nominated for "Best Ensemble" at the Stage Awards for Acting Excellence.Beadle-Blair wrote and created the Channel 4 miniseries Metrosexuality, which aired in 2001. He also portrayed one of the central characters in the show.
In Autumn 2007, FIT, a play for young people commissioned by the Manchester-based arts organisation queerupnorth and the gay equality organisation Stonewall, went on tour around the UK. The play was developed to help tackle homophobic bullying in Britain's schools. Beadle-Blair subsequently adapted it into a film.
Beadle-Blair was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire in the 2016 Birthday Honours for services to drama.
Selected plays
Kick-Off – January 2009, Riverside StudiosFit adapted for film in 2010Home – Tristan Bates Theatre Touch – Tristan Bates Theatre Screwface – Tristan Bates Theatre.Familyman – Theatre Royal Stratford East. Text published by Oberon Books.FIT – National Tour – adapted for filmStonewall – stage adaptation of the BBC film.Taken In – Set in a halfway house for homeless youths.Bashment – explores the controversy around dancehall reggae music and the consequences of homophobic lyrics – Theatre Royal Stratford East. Text published by Oberon Books.Totally Practically Naked in My Room on a Wednesday Night – a night in the life of 17-year-old Dylan, desperate to lose his virginity.- South London Passion Plays trilogy – Tristan Bates TheatreCaptivated – the story of a gay black man imprisoned for murder. Shane corresponds with an Asian pen pal who writes him as an act of charity. Shane's self-hatred turns into a soul-searching journey from cockiness to agonised self-reflection, and finally ultimate gratitude for his unseen friend.Ask and Tell – homosexuality and the Army.twothousandandSex – an ensemble play about sex and sexuality featuring 35 actors – at the Drill Hall Theatre.
Radio/Audio
Roots of Homophobia an exploration of Jamaican homophobia. It won a 2002 Sony Best Feature Award.Whoopsie – gay comedy-drama, 28 mins.
Scooters, Shooters & Shottas: a Curious Tale – a 40-minute podcast drama of raucous Black queer lives in "the endz" of South London.