NEWS
2 March 2026
Announcing the 2026 Bursary recipient - movement/theatre artist Wendy Houstoun.
In accepting the award she said "I am over the moon to be a recipient of the Emma O”Kane bursary 2026. I am going to try out an ambitious idea that I have been dreaming about for a while now. The idea is a long, slow moving, epic monologue for the body around the theme of national and personal identity - a theme close to my heart. As I am given to twitching around the stage in short vignettes persisting at one task slowly might be quite the challenge. I know ambitions are so much easier on the keyboard but I have some strange sense the planets are aligned and that the qualities of the deeply human and poetic Emma O’Kane will be hovering in the ether to guide me. Encouraging and likely laughing at me as I flounder around - out of my depth in the best possible way."
ABOUT
Wendy Houstoun is a movement/theatre artist whose work has established a uniquely distinctive style combining movement with text, and meaning with humour.
Starting in 1980 with Ludus Dance Company she went on to create memorable roles in performances with The Kosh,
Lumiere and Son Theatre Company, DV8 Physical Theatre (IF ONLY..., STRANGE FISH, BOUND TO PLEASE), Tim Etchells and Forced Entertainment (BLOODY MESS). She has collaborated with such artists as: David Hinton, Jonathan Burrows and Matteo Fargion, Nigel Charnock, Rose English, in large and small stages, specific sites, film, writing and installation.
Her substantial body of solo works (HAUNTED, 48 ALMOST LOVE LYRICS, HAPPY HOUR, 50 ACTS, PACT WITH POINTLESSNESS and WATCH IT!) have toured internationally confronting themes of ageing, death, drinking and the state of England with typical commitment and irreverence.
Photo by Wendy Houstoun