About Theatre Prop Makers.

Beckie originally trained in Fine Art before specialising in Theatre Design at University of Central England, where she graduated in 1993 with a 2:1. She began work with promenade theatre companies and with performance artist and outdoor installation artists before moving to more mainstream theatre work such as working as design assistant on ‘The Ballet Raymonda’ at the Berlin State opera House and prop making at the Donmar Warehouse in London. During her time in London, Beckie worked consistently with the designer Bridget Kimak as her assistant, prop maker and painter, working for a companies such as Polka Childrens’ Theatre and the English Shakespeare Company. On returning to the North she spent two years full time in the art department of Mersey Television, a year at the Stephen Joseph Theatre in Scarborough and five years on and off for York Theatre Royal plus a variety of freelance prop making and painting contracts with companies like the New Vic Theatre, the Yorvick Project and Cadbury World, Midsommer Actors, Northern Broadsides, Tutti Frutti, Watershed Productions, London's Regent's Park and Soho Theatre, Birmingham Stage Company and Pilot Theatre Company. She is based in Scarborough, North Yorkshire. Recently filmed for Look North http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BC6Yb4GdpZg

 

" I recently gave Beckie a very difficult brief: a realistic rabbit that had to be skinned, gutted and have it's heart ripped out and squeezed on a nightly basis. The prop she came up with fulfilled the brief perfectly; it not only looked fantastic, but it was durable, and both actor and stage manager friendly."
Matt Noddings, 2009, Production Manager at Soho Theatre, London

Beckie has always excelled in the work she has done for me, whether it be painting or prop making. Giant snooker balls, a complicated painted tiled floor or a wonky pissed pub bar, nothing seems to faze her. She's a pleasure to have around especially when Spinach Florentines are involved!
Pip Leckenby, Theatre Designer