Vici Wreford-Sinnott
Writing / Directing CV
Full Member Writers Guild Great Britain
“I have just watched this brilliant, funny and powerful film.
Starring four brilliant, funny and powerful women.
I LOVED it. Treat yourselves”
Julie Hesmondhalgh, Twitter, Funny Peculiar
"Vici is an outstanding writer and director, and an
important voice in today’s theatrical landscape."
Annabel Turpin, CEO, ARC Stockton
Contact: viciws1@yahoo.co.uk
Twitter @viciws
Vici is a disabled theatre and screenwriter, filmmaker, director and keynote speaker on disability representation in culture.
Vici’s recent commission from Northern Stage, ARC Stockton and funded by Arts Council England, digital film Funny Peculiar, stars Liz Carr (of Silent Witness and Infinite fame). The piece received critical acclaim, and Vici has been offered a publishing deal with Salamander Street. The film was recently screened at Dadafest International, The London Disability Film Festival 2020, Venice Shorts and Toronto International Women Film Festival. Vici is now receiving distribution support from The Space and Funny Peculiar is available through The Space from Culture to Couch, Thespie, and British Council On Demand platforms.
Vici trained at the University of Kent where she gained a first class award for her specialist furth year in Directing. She is Artistic Director of Little Cog, where she has directed many productions, specializing in disabled-led work championing the voices of disabled women. The company has successfully attracted significant funding for stage productions, regional and national tours and for strategic partnership projects.
Vici is currently under commission from Live Theatre, ARC Stockton, Bradford Theatre in the Mill for a stage play and national tour of a new piece of work entitled Useless F*cker - a profoundly moving piece about family. Vici is also collaborating with Guardian journalist Frances Ryan to adapt her book Crippled into a series of digital shorts and a stage production. The development is under commission from ARC Stockton, Home Manchester and DadaFest International.
Vici is a leading, critically acclaimed figure in the UK and Ireland Disability Theatre and often gives talks, keynote speeches, appears on panels, gives advice in consultancies and writes on the subject. In 2018 she was awarded a scholarship to undertake a PhD in Disability Theatre focusing on her own practice.
In Development
Halfway There
Comedy radio drama about women over 50, ageing at the black binbag end of graceful, Arts Council England, Little Cog,
Writer/Director
Funny Haha
Comedy drama about a group of disabled women trying to become stand up comedians, six part series for TV,
Writer
Useless Fucker
Live Theatre, ARC Stockton, Theatre in the Mill Commission for a national touring production 2022, Arts Council England
Writer/Director
Digital Broadcast Online
Siege
Commissioned by HOME Manchester and ARC Stockton Homemakers 2020
Writer/Director, starring Philippa Cole
Funny Peculiar
Commissioned by Northern Stage and ARC Stockton, funded by Arts Council England 2020 /Official Selections at Toronto International Women Film Festival and Toegether 2020 London Disability Film Festival
Writer/director/producer/actor
Writing the Missing – A River Cycle
Commissioned by New Writing North and Lisette Auton for Durham Book Festival 2020
Writer/performer
Theatre – Writer and Director
Another England
Cultural Shift Commission / ARC Stockton, Spirit of 2012 Trust, Arts Council England
National Tour which opened doors to conversations at National Theatre Studio and Royal Court
Lighthouse
Cultural Shift Commission / ARC Stockton, Spirit of 2012 Trust, Arts Council England
Written bilingually in BSL and spoken English
Butterfly
Cultural Shift Commission / ARC Stockton, Spirit of 2012 Trust, Arts Council England
National Tour and Salisbury International Arts Festival Headline Show
The Art of Not Getting Lost
Zinc Arts, ARC Stockton, Northern Stage Commission, Arts Council England
Regional Tour North East
Vote For Caliban
Northern Stage and ARCADEA Commission
Curation of Disability Performance Showcase Northern Stage
Broadcast
Dublin Fringe Festival, Project Arts Centre, Arts Council Ireland and Arts and Disability Ireland Commission
Co Writer/Director with Donal Toolan presented at project Arts Centre, Dublin
Deadly Devotchka
Sycorax Theatre Company, East Durham Partnership
Edinburgh Fringe Run
Moll Cutpurse: A Comedy for the 21st Century
Cirque des femmes theatre company, Cleveland Arts, East Durham Partnership
Regional Tour North East, Seven Days for New Thinking Project Arts Centre, Dublin
Film
Jellybelly
City Arts Centre & Irish Film Institute Commission funded by An Chomhairle Ealaion. Producer Black Robin
A community feature film with mixed professional and community cast.
launched at Irish Film Institute by Kirsten Sheriden
Articles
Vici has written articles for Arts Professional and Disability Arts Online. She is a regular contributor to global theatre platform Theatre Art Life.
Achievements
Reviews
Funny Peculiar
“Funny and hard-hitting” “wittily scripted”
National review - 4 stars in The Stage
“Hilarious and relatable”
Disability Arts Online
“I’m thrilled to have this chance to give voice to and highlight the fears, dark humour and incredible resilience of Disabled women as together we fight for our very existence not just during this pandemic - but always.”
Liz Carr
Another England
“Another brilliant play written and directed by the amazingly talented Vici Wreford-Sinnott, with excellent performances from Philippa Cole and Andrew McLay. A must-see especially in this current climate of government cuts.”
ARC Stockton Audience
“Was blown away by Another England! Can’t stop thinking about it. Everyone should see this play”
Audience feedback
“Why is this play not on at the National Theatre?!”
Theatre Director Feedback
Butterfly
"Such a timely piece of work - political, relevant and so moving"
ARC Stockton Audience
‘Vici Wreford Sinnott is an accomplished writer and knows her craft’
Disability Arts Online
Letter of Recommendation: December 2020
RE: Vici Wreford-Sinnott from Annabel Turpin Artistic Director and CEO of ARC Stockton
Vici is an outstanding writer and director, and an important voice in today’s theatrical landscape.
ARC has been producing Vici’s work since 2015, developing and presenting her work at our base in Stockton, but also touring her productions across the UK.
At the outset, we chose to work with Vici as we recognised her skill as a writer and storyteller, and her initial proposal for The Art of Not Getting Lost addressed some major gaps in our programme. We were conscious of the voices and people that were not being heard and seen on our stages, and of the stories that weren’t being told.
During that process we were able to appreciate Vici’s skill as a director, and this led to a longer term commitment. As one of ARC’s Associate Artists, we have produced a number of productions with Vici, including Butterfly, Lighthouse and Another England, which we brought back to ARC for a second time following its initial success. We have recently co-commissioned Siege and Funny Peculiar and are currently working with Vici on two new pieces of work.
Vici’s wealth of experience in disability arts informs her work, which ensures it is always considered, authentic and never voyeuristic. She has a particular skill in bringing complex characters to life, through monologue and dialogue, and is never afraid to show the darker side of people’s lives.
We are proud to work with Vici, and delighted that her work has been attracting so much interest nationally and internationally.
Annabel Turpin
Chief Executive & Artistic Director
T: 01642 525188 E: annabel.turpin@arconline.co.uk
Writing / Directing CV
Full Member Writers Guild Great Britain
“I have just watched this brilliant, funny and powerful film.
Starring four brilliant, funny and powerful women.
I LOVED it. Treat yourselves”
Julie Hesmondhalgh, Twitter, Funny Peculiar
"Vici is an outstanding writer and director, and an
important voice in today’s theatrical landscape."
Annabel Turpin, CEO, ARC Stockton
Contact: viciws1@yahoo.co.uk
Twitter @viciws
Vici is a disabled theatre and screenwriter, filmmaker, director and keynote speaker on disability representation in culture.
Vici’s recent commission from Northern Stage, ARC Stockton and funded by Arts Council England, digital film Funny Peculiar, stars Liz Carr (of Silent Witness and Infinite fame). The piece received critical acclaim, and Vici has been offered a publishing deal with Salamander Street. The film was recently screened at Dadafest International, The London Disability Film Festival 2020, Venice Shorts and Toronto International Women Film Festival. Vici is now receiving distribution support from The Space and Funny Peculiar is available through The Space from Culture to Couch, Thespie, and British Council On Demand platforms.
Vici trained at the University of Kent where she gained a first class award for her specialist furth year in Directing. She is Artistic Director of Little Cog, where she has directed many productions, specializing in disabled-led work championing the voices of disabled women. The company has successfully attracted significant funding for stage productions, regional and national tours and for strategic partnership projects.
Vici is currently under commission from Live Theatre, ARC Stockton, Bradford Theatre in the Mill for a stage play and national tour of a new piece of work entitled Useless F*cker - a profoundly moving piece about family. Vici is also collaborating with Guardian journalist Frances Ryan to adapt her book Crippled into a series of digital shorts and a stage production. The development is under commission from ARC Stockton, Home Manchester and DadaFest International.
Vici is a leading, critically acclaimed figure in the UK and Ireland Disability Theatre and often gives talks, keynote speeches, appears on panels, gives advice in consultancies and writes on the subject. In 2018 she was awarded a scholarship to undertake a PhD in Disability Theatre focusing on her own practice.
In Development
Halfway There
Comedy radio drama about women over 50, ageing at the black binbag end of graceful, Arts Council England, Little Cog,
Writer/Director
Funny Haha
Comedy drama about a group of disabled women trying to become stand up comedians, six part series for TV,
Writer
Useless Fucker
Live Theatre, ARC Stockton, Theatre in the Mill Commission for a national touring production 2022, Arts Council England
Writer/Director
Digital Broadcast Online
Siege
Commissioned by HOME Manchester and ARC Stockton Homemakers 2020
Writer/Director, starring Philippa Cole
Funny Peculiar
Commissioned by Northern Stage and ARC Stockton, funded by Arts Council England 2020 /Official Selections at Toronto International Women Film Festival and Toegether 2020 London Disability Film Festival
Writer/director/producer/actor
Writing the Missing – A River Cycle
Commissioned by New Writing North and Lisette Auton for Durham Book Festival 2020
Writer/performer
Theatre – Writer and Director
Another England
Cultural Shift Commission / ARC Stockton, Spirit of 2012 Trust, Arts Council England
National Tour which opened doors to conversations at National Theatre Studio and Royal Court
Lighthouse
Cultural Shift Commission / ARC Stockton, Spirit of 2012 Trust, Arts Council England
Written bilingually in BSL and spoken English
Butterfly
Cultural Shift Commission / ARC Stockton, Spirit of 2012 Trust, Arts Council England
National Tour and Salisbury International Arts Festival Headline Show
The Art of Not Getting Lost
Zinc Arts, ARC Stockton, Northern Stage Commission, Arts Council England
Regional Tour North East
Vote For Caliban
Northern Stage and ARCADEA Commission
Curation of Disability Performance Showcase Northern Stage
Broadcast
Dublin Fringe Festival, Project Arts Centre, Arts Council Ireland and Arts and Disability Ireland Commission
Co Writer/Director with Donal Toolan presented at project Arts Centre, Dublin
Deadly Devotchka
Sycorax Theatre Company, East Durham Partnership
Edinburgh Fringe Run
Moll Cutpurse: A Comedy for the 21st Century
Cirque des femmes theatre company, Cleveland Arts, East Durham Partnership
Regional Tour North East, Seven Days for New Thinking Project Arts Centre, Dublin
Film
Jellybelly
City Arts Centre & Irish Film Institute Commission funded by An Chomhairle Ealaion. Producer Black Robin
A community feature film with mixed professional and community cast.
launched at Irish Film Institute by Kirsten Sheriden
Articles
Vici has written articles for Arts Professional and Disability Arts Online. She is a regular contributor to global theatre platform Theatre Art Life.
Achievements
- Royal Court Northern Writers Group Shortlist
- Royal Court and New Writing North Playwright Development Workshops
- BBC Writers Room / Leeds Playhouse Airwaves Shortlist
- Royal Court / Kudos Fellowship Longlist
- Selected for British Council Diverse Directors at Director’s Lab North, Toronto Canada
- British Council Bursary Brussels IETM representing disabled practitioners
- Butterfly - Best One Person Play British Theatre Guide
- The Baby Doll Project - Met Eirrean Diversity Award
- PhD Scholarship to research disability theatre representation focussing on my writing.
Reviews
Funny Peculiar
“Funny and hard-hitting” “wittily scripted”
National review - 4 stars in The Stage
“Hilarious and relatable”
Disability Arts Online
“I’m thrilled to have this chance to give voice to and highlight the fears, dark humour and incredible resilience of Disabled women as together we fight for our very existence not just during this pandemic - but always.”
Liz Carr
Another England
“Another brilliant play written and directed by the amazingly talented Vici Wreford-Sinnott, with excellent performances from Philippa Cole and Andrew McLay. A must-see especially in this current climate of government cuts.”
ARC Stockton Audience
“Was blown away by Another England! Can’t stop thinking about it. Everyone should see this play”
Audience feedback
“Why is this play not on at the National Theatre?!”
Theatre Director Feedback
Butterfly
"Such a timely piece of work - political, relevant and so moving"
ARC Stockton Audience
‘Vici Wreford Sinnott is an accomplished writer and knows her craft’
Disability Arts Online
Letter of Recommendation: December 2020
RE: Vici Wreford-Sinnott from Annabel Turpin Artistic Director and CEO of ARC Stockton
Vici is an outstanding writer and director, and an important voice in today’s theatrical landscape.
ARC has been producing Vici’s work since 2015, developing and presenting her work at our base in Stockton, but also touring her productions across the UK.
At the outset, we chose to work with Vici as we recognised her skill as a writer and storyteller, and her initial proposal for The Art of Not Getting Lost addressed some major gaps in our programme. We were conscious of the voices and people that were not being heard and seen on our stages, and of the stories that weren’t being told.
During that process we were able to appreciate Vici’s skill as a director, and this led to a longer term commitment. As one of ARC’s Associate Artists, we have produced a number of productions with Vici, including Butterfly, Lighthouse and Another England, which we brought back to ARC for a second time following its initial success. We have recently co-commissioned Siege and Funny Peculiar and are currently working with Vici on two new pieces of work.
Vici’s wealth of experience in disability arts informs her work, which ensures it is always considered, authentic and never voyeuristic. She has a particular skill in bringing complex characters to life, through monologue and dialogue, and is never afraid to show the darker side of people’s lives.
We are proud to work with Vici, and delighted that her work has been attracting so much interest nationally and internationally.
Annabel Turpin
Chief Executive & Artistic Director
T: 01642 525188 E: annabel.turpin@arconline.co.uk