Judey Bignell

Judey is a Sussex based director, writer and performer.

She graduated from the University of Sussex in 2017 with a Masters in Creative and Critical Writing, following a BA in English. Born from early childhood inspiration, she has worked and performed in Theatre for nearly two decades, covering everything from wardrobe design and prop construction to Stage Management and Production Management. In the last five years, she has gone on to become a theatre-maker in her own right, wanting to drive her own creative vision.

With a passion for parody and comedy, it is no surprise that her recent projects have drawn her into the comedic and carnivalesque. However, she has a strong background and many years of experience in both performing and analysing Shakespeare and Early Modern theatre, and is passionate about literature and character driven drama of all varieties.

Her current endeavour is to stage the Musical she created and submitted for her Masters dissertation, focusing on the nature of parody and satire in Jane Austen's works. A 30 minute (non-musical) version of this piece has been performed at the New Venture Theatre of Brighton as part of their Short Play Festival 2019, focusing on new writing.

Judey is a performer and one of the founding members of the all-female and award winning Brighton based sketch comedy troupe The Fannytasticals, who collaboratively write, direct and produce their own material. The troupe is in its third year and is touring their latest show to Edinburgh Fringe in August 2019, and through London in the Autumn.

She has also worked for three seasons as actress and Staff Director of the South East's 'Theatre in Education' company, Rainbow Theatre.

Credits

DIRECTOR, ‘Sex & Disability’, The Purple Playhouse, 3 nights, 2019.
ASSISTANT PRODUCER and MARKETING OFFICER, ‘Silas Marner’, Conn Artists Theatre Company Ltd. UK tour, 4 weeks, 2019.
WRITER/PERFORMER, 'The Fannytasticals’, Edinburgh Fringe Sweet Venues, 10 nights, 2019.
WRITER/PERFORMER, ‘The Fannytasticals’, The Star Inn, 1 night, 2019.
WRITER, ‘Match and Matrimony’, New Venture Theatre Short Play Festival, 10 nights, 2019.
ACTRESS (DOT), ‘Clean’, The Barn Theatre Smallhythe Place, 1 night, 2019.
MUSICIAN, 'Clean', Brighton Fringe Sweet Venues, 3 days, 2019.
WRITER/PERFORMER, ‘Fannytasticals Cum Again’, Brighton Fringe Sweet Venues, 7 nights, 2019.
TECHNICIAN/VOICE ACTOR, 'Gareth Southgate ate my Credit Card’, Brighton Fringe Spiegeltent, 4 nights, 2019.
WRITER/PERFORMER, ‘Fannytasticals and their Fellowpian Friends’, Brighton KOMEDIA, 2 nights, 2019.

STAFF DIRECTOR/ACTRESS, Rainbow Theatre T.I.E, 2 seasons, 2018/19.
WRITER/PERFORMER, ‘The Fannytasticals: Greatest Tits’, Camden Fringe Etcetera Theatre, 3 nights, 2018.
LIGHT & SOUND TECHNICIAN, Two Gentlemen of Verona/The Taming of the Shrew, Rainbow Shakespeare Highdown Gardens, 2 weeks, 2018.
WRITER/PERFORMER, ‘Fannytasticals’, Brighton Fringe Latest Comedy Club, 4 nights, 2018.
DIRECTOR, 'Babble', The Dukebox Theatre (Cast Iron Short Plays), 2 nights, 2018.
ACTRESS (LIZZY), 'Joy', The Dukebox Theatre (Cast Iron Short Plays), 2 nights, 2018.
WRITER/PERFORMER, ‘Fannytasticals’, Indigo Club, 2 nights, 2018.
WRITER/PERFORMER, 'Fannytasticals', The Marlborough, 2 nights, 2018.
ACTRESS, Rainbow Theatre T.I.E., 1 season, 2017-18.

WRITER/PERFORMER, 'Fannytasticals’, Brighton KOMEDIA, 1 night, 2017.
DIRECTOR, ‘Split Scene’, The Dukebox Theatre (Voices in my Head), 2 nights, 2017.
DIRECTOR/WRITER, 'Murder on the S.S. Esse', Sussex Yacht Club (Jays Productions), 1 night, 2017.
LIGHT & SOUND TECHNICIAN, 'The Trial of Le Singe’, The Water-Rats, 3 nights, 2017.
PRODUCTION MANAGER/TECHNICIAN, 'A Midsummer Night's Dream'/'The Merchant of Venice', Rainbow Shakespeare Highdown Gardens, 2 weeks, 2017.
DIRECTOR, 'Stones', The Rialto, 4 days, 2017.
WRITER/PERFORMER, 'Fannytasticals: Greatest Tits', The Dukebox Theatre, 4 nights, 2017.
DIRECTOR/WRITER/PERFORMER, 'The Murder at Pear Tree Inn', Sussex Yacht Club, 1 night, 2017.
WRITER/VOICE ACTOR, 'Love Machine', The Dukebox Theatre (Cast Iron Short Plays), 2 nights, 2017.
WRITER/PERFORMER, 'My Fanny Valentine', Artista Bar & Cafe, 2 nights, 2017.

WRITER/PERFORMER, 'Fannytasticals: Six Hens a-Playing', New Venture Theatre, 2 nights, 2016.
WRITER/PERFORMER, 'Fannytasticals: Reloaded, The Dukebox Theatre, 4 nights, 2016.
ACTRESS (Mary Shelley), 'Year Without Summer', The Dukebox Theatre, 1 night, 2016.
WRITER, 'Two Minute Lifetime', The Dukebox Theatre Cast Iron Short Stories, 2 nights, 2016.
ACTRESS (Mary Shelley), 'Year Without Summer', Brighton Fringe The Waterfront, 7 nights, 2016.
WRITER/PERFORMER, 'Fannytasticals', The Dukebox Theatre, 2 nights, 2016.
ACTRESS ('Abdication Speech', The Dukebox Theatre (Not Just the Companion), 2 nights, 2016.
ACTRESS (SARAH), 'The Death of Mrs Brown', The Dukebox Theatre (Cast Iron Short Plays), 2 nights, 2016.

ENSEMBLE, 'A Christmas Carol', New Venture Theatre, 10 nights, 2016.
WRITER, 'The Hobgoblin', The Dukebox Theatre (Cast Iron Short Stories), 2 nights, 2015.
DIRECTOR, 'Last Supper', The Dukebox Theatre (Cast Iron Short Plays), 2 nights, 2015.
ACTRESS (LUCY), 'Space and Time', The Dukebox Theatre (Cast Iron Short Plays), 2 nights, 2015.
WRITER, 'After Happily Ever After', The Dukebox Theatre (Cast Iron Short Plays), 2 nights, 2015.
DIRECTOR, 'National Treasure', The Dukebox Theatre (Cast Iron Short Plays), 2 nights, 2015.

DIRECTOR/WRITER, 'Cinderella: An adult pantomime', University of Sussex SUDS, 3 nights, 2014.
WRITER, ‘From A to B’, The Ritz (Worthing WOW), 2 nights, 2014.