A WOMAN from Launceston has been awarded the British Empire Medal for services to inclusive theatre.

Rebecca Chapman has been presented with a BEM following her work to create a variety of productions featuring fully integrated disabled and non-disabled casts for nearly 15 years.

Rebecca grew up in Launceston where she attended ballet classes at the Langton School of Dancing qualifying as a ballet teacher and teaching classes across North Cornwall. However it was when she was asked to take on the role of Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz at the Launceston Amateur Dramatic Society that her trajectory changed, as she went on to gain a BA Hons Performance Arts at Middlesex Poly and trained at Bristol Old Vic Theatre School.

After many years of treading the boards in and around London, national tours and comedy stints at the Edinburgh Fringe, Rebecca moved to Norfolk.

It was there that she founded Total Ensemble - which is comprised of the Total Ensemble Theatre Company, and Total Ensemble Arts Initiative.

The former offers high profile public performance opportunities to community players, disabled and non-disabled, all ages and backgrounds. One highlight saw performers take to the stage for a production of ‘Boy in the Lighthouse’ the premier of an original play for the Autumn Festival of Norfolk 2018 which gave members the opportunity to perform in Norwich Cathedral.

The latter is an initiative which encourages artists, arts practitioners and their community groups to come together as a collective, to deliver outreach projects and accessible performance and arts workshops, free of charge.

Rebecca says that she hopes that her work is able to delight, nurture and unite communities.

She said: “What has proved to be transformative, for our participants and performers over the years, is our provision of a unique space in which everyone can experience and engage in the real work and play of creating and performing original stories and live theatre. This continues to this day and is facilitated in a way that allows us all to ‘come as we are’, as individuals, to work towards a common goal, functioning in a diverse group that challenges, delights, nurtures and, above all, unites us.”

She says that the recognition of a BEM has given her a ‘boost’ and only serves keep her passion ignited.

She continued: “For my passion of live performance to turn out to be something that others enjoy and benefit from makes me a fortunate person indeed. To have had this work acknowledged and valued by many at every step of the way has provided vital encouragement.

“To experience this recent recognition at such a high level is a major boost and will only serve to keep the passion alive. I have received this BEM thanks to the many beautiful people that have encouraged, assisted, held faith and believed in the work of Total Ensemble.

“All those that have committed themselves to rehearsals, performances, outreach and those that have given their support in the form of volunteering, funding and expertise.”