Marcella Rick
Writer | Performer | Director | Facilitator | Arts Marketer
About Marcella
Marcella is a scouser, storyteller and creative. Proudly queer and disabled, their work centers comedy as a means for connection and exploration.
They’re also dyslexic, so if you see some spelling mistakes on this page, don’t be sly!
Marcella has worked as an arts marketer, and creative facilitator, for over 6 years. They have managed and delivered creative and practical-skills programmes for Community Integrated Care, and facilitated specialist workshops in Playwrighting, Tone of Voice and Marketing Creative Surgeries across the North West. Marcella has also expanded their practice to encompass curation and programming, having programmed and managed creative events for Community Integrated Care and Together! 2012 CIC.
Having trained in Directing through First Take, with additional mentorship from award-winning theatremaker Ameera Conrad, Marcella has directed two theatrical productions (Beyond the Frame, Unity Theatre 2022; Sober Curious, Hope Mill Theatre 2023), and one short film (My Friend Huw, Iris Community Prize nominee, 2023). They have also provided support as a Director in R&D processes, including Paul Betney’s Old Dog, New Tricks (Unity Theatre, 2022, & Birkenhead Arts Palace, 2023), and on a voluntary basis for artists performing at our Sniff Test events.
Writing Credits
Writing Credits
Marcella has been writing for the stage and screen since 2020, and has had work comissioned by companies such as Box of Tricks, Unity Theatre, Everyman & Playhouse, CRIPtic Arts and First Take.
They have also shared their original short stories and spoken word at Sound City, Homotopia Festival, and A Lovely Word.
Potato Milk | Playhouse Studio | May - June 2024
Theatre | Funded by Arts Council England
This original queer calamity about polyamory, lesbians and milk-alternatives received an excellent reception across it’s sold-out run.
Sober Curious | Old Diorama/Hopemill Theatre | January 2023 & November 2023
Theatre | Funded by CRIPtic Arts & Hopemill Theatre
A one-person production, welcoming audiences into the brain of an alcohol-dependent neurodivergent lesbian embarking on their first sober night out.
Twelf Night | Box of Tricks | December 2023
Theatre | Funded by Arden School and Box of Tricks
Created for Arden School of Theatre’s final-year performers, this original theatre-short explored all of the yuletide essentials - unionising elves, the evils of capitalism, and the elf gender quinary.
My Friend Huw
Film short | Commissioned by First Take
This comedic peice of spoken word has been shared at venues including Liverpool’s FACT, Royal Standard, and was a 2023 Iris Prize Community Short Finalist.
Femme | Everyman Studio | May 2022
Theatre | Commissioned by Everyman & Playhouse
Collaboratively written alongside a collection of local writers, Femme was a fresh, gender-bending take on some of classical literature's scorned heroines.
Lydia McManus and the Red Headed Girl | Unity Theatre/Playhouse Studio | November 2022
Theatre | Funded by Unity Theatre and Homotopia Festival
Originally produced as part of Homotopia’s Try Something Different programme, Lydia McManus and the Red Headed Girl is a short story about finding community, and staying true to yourself - even if that means swerving someone you proper fancy.
Scouse exceptionalism, but | A Lovely Poetry Festival | July 2024
Poetry | Published in A Lovely Poetry Zine
An original poem exploring the intricacies of scouse exceptionalism, published in A Lovely Poetry Zine.
Performer Credits
Marcella at Quarry, before performing as part of Queer inSight. Captured by Mhairi Bell-Moodie
Headliner | A Lovely Word | December 2024
A Lovely Word Christmas Special
Marcella wrote and performed a set of original spoken word pieces and short stories.
Potato Milk | Playhouse Studio | May - June 2024
Original Turning Worm Production
Marcella played the leading role of Polly, alongside a series of multirole characters.
Where Are All the Lesbians? | Homotopia Festival | 2022
Improvised live performance | Commissioned by Homotopia Festival
This improvised one-person tour of Liverpool asked the question on everyone’s lips: Where Are All the Lesbians? Marcella plotted the route themself, and followed the event as a guest on a panel discussion about lesbianism and trans allyship.
Who the F*** is Shakesphere? | Unity Theatre | November - December 2023
20 Stories High production
Marcella played Viola/Cesario, and multiroled throughout the production. They also contributed to the writing of Viola/Cesario, leaning into queer and transmasculine joy throughout the show.
Fucks Bizz | Sheep Soup Productions and Expressia Arts Festival | May 2023
A comedic physical theatre performance as part of Eurovision 2023
Marcella performed as 1/4 of Fucks Bizz - a original Bucks Fizz tribute act, which was platformed on the Everyman Theatre main stage, and at Liverpool’s Quarry, as part of Liverpool’s official Eurovision celebrations.
Creative development
Union 24 | January 2024 - Present | Residential development programme for community artists and social activists across the North of England.
CRIPtic Arts Launchpad | February 2024 - November 2024 | A development and staging scheme for a cohort of 4 disabled creatives
20 Stories High Actors LAB | May 2023 - December 2024 | A training programme for actors, including mentorship and workshops from industry professionals, culminating in an original production.
First Take Reel Queers | Training undertaken in Screenwriting, Directing, Basic Filmmaking, and Screen Acting
Homotopia QueerCore Artist (2023-23) | A creative developing and commission programme
First Take Queer inSight | Commission to create and distribute an original short film
CRIPtic Arts Reach (2021-22) | A series of workshops and mentorship, cumulating in a debut London performance of an original one-person show
Facilitation
As Partnerships & Communities Development Specialist at Community Integrated Care, Marcella founded and facilitated a weekly Creativity Club, and delivered several programmes for the charity, including Taking Charge - a multi platform approach to support people across the UK social care industry to manage rising energy prices. Marcella facilitated over 100 webinars for Taking Charge, which was featured on ITV Granada and BBC North West Tonight.
Marcella also founded the Scotland Storytelling Project - a creative development programme for Scottish adults with learning disabilities. The 16 week programme introduced the artists to a range of storytelling methods, from spoken word to clowning, enabling them to specialise in an artistic discipline and devise an original performance.
Alongside facilitating all sessions, and programming special guest facilitators, Marcella provided 1:1 support for each each artist, empowering them with the confidence to perform for the first time.
Marcella has facilitated creative workshops and professional development opportunities across the UK.
They specialise in facilitating online programmes for disabled artists, having delivered multiple workshops for CRIPtic Arts’ Connect Through Creativity Programme, and leading special Club sessions through Together! 2012 CIC.
Watch excerpts of the world premier performance from the Scotland Creativity Club here
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