Kay Adshead is a multifaceted artist born on May 10, 1954, in Lancashire, England. She is a poet, playwright, theatremaker, actress, and producer who has made significant contributions to the world of television and theatre.
Adshead's early life and education were marked by a passion for the performing arts. She was a child actress with the Stretford Children's Theatre and later trained as an actress at RADA, where she won several awards for her outstanding talent and individual skill in stage-fighting.
Throughout her career, Adshead has played leading roles in film and television, including Cathy in the BBC classic series Wuthering Heights, Beryl Stapelton in Hound of The Baskervilles, Linda in Mike Leigh's film Kiss of Death, and Sue McKenna in the Film on Four Acceptable Levels.
On stage, Adshead has performed in numerous productions, including Moll Gromer in Thee and Me and Muriel in Harlequinade at the Royal National Theatre. She has also appeared in productions such as Touched, White Suit Blues, Amadeus, Back To Methuselah, and Juicy Bits.
In the 1980s and 1990s, Adshead combined numerous lead roles in premiere fringe and experimental productions, including Cath in First Blush, Jill in Walking, Susan in Love Bites, and Stepfather/ Gorgon in Cinderella The True Story.
Adshead has also worked extensively in regional and repertory companies, playing leading roles in productions such as Twelfth Night, People Are Living There, The Changeling, and Semi-Detached.
As a director, Adshead has worked on several productions, including On the Verge, The Possibilities, Fen, and Entertaining Strangers. She has also written and directed several plays, including Bones, The Singing Stones, and Acts of Defiance.
In 1999, Adshead co-founded the award-winning theatre company Mama Quilla with Lucinda Gane. The company seeks to give the female perspective on the big issues of the day and to address the dearth of opportunities in the theatre for female performers over 40.
Mama Quilla has produced several successful plays, including The Bogus Woman, Bites, and Bones, which have been performed internationally. The company has also toured several productions, including Veil, an immersive installation, and Working Girls.
Throughout her career, Adshead has worked with numerous notable directors and actors, including Victoria Wood, Sir Richard Eyre, Keith Michell, Pete Postlethwaite, and Noma Dumezweni.
Kay Adshead lives between London, UK, and Houston, USA, and continues to work as a poet, playwright, theatremaker, actress, and producer.
