Judith Dimant and Poppy Keeling Join Emma Rice at Wise Children

Wise Children today announces that Judith Dimant and Poppy Keeling will join Emma Rice to lead the newly formed company. Keeling will take up her role as Executive Producer in the new year, with Dimant joining as Executive Director later in the Spring as the company launch nationwide. Both join Bristol based Wise Children from Complicité.

Judith Dimant said today, "After 25 years at Complicité I feel privileged to join Emma Rice at the start of this new venture. Emma is an artist I have long admired and I am thrilled to have the opportunity to work with her."

Emma Rice commented, "Judith and Poppy bring an unparalleled wealth of skills, understanding and experience to Wise Children - not to mention their unique shared history. I feel lucky beyond words to share the Wise Children journey with these remarkable women by my side - prepare for wonders!"

Judith Dimant is currently Executive Producer at Complicité where she has worked opposite Simon McBurney since 1993. Her work with Complicité includes The Encounter, Lionboy, The Master and Margarita, Shun-Kin, A Disappearing Number, The Elephant Vanishes, Mnemonic, The Three Lives of Lucie Cabrol, The Chairs, The Caucasian Chalk Circle, the revival of A Minute Too Late and seasons in London's West End, Broadway and Off-Broadway. She also designed and leads the new Complicite Associates Programme through which the Company supports brilliant emerging and mid-career artists. As part of which scheme she produced Bryony Kimmings' A Pacifist's Guide to the War On Cancer in 2016. Before joining Complicité, Dimant was press officer at The Royal Court Theatre, Administrator for Glynis Henderson Management (touring companies including STOMP) and for four years she programmed comedy and ran the Press Office at the Pleasance Theatre Edinburgh Fringe festival. In 2014, Dimant was awarded an MBE for Services to Drama.

Poppy Keeling has worked at Complicité for nearly ten years, as a Producer and as the Director of the company's award-winning Creative Learning Programme. As producer, productions include The Encounter, A Pacifist's Guide to the War On Cancer, Lionboy, The Master and Margarita, Endgame, Shun-Kin and A Disappearing Number. Creative Learning work includes participatory projects Like Mother, Like Daughter for mothers and daughters from different religious groups; the Ensemble Maths Project; Seen and Not Heard with Kirsty Housley; and the award-winning Tea with Geraldine Pilgrim.

Wise Children is a new company conceived, created and led by me, Emma Rice. Firmly and deeply rooted in the South West, it is the beginning of a crisp new chapter and the culmination of the process and beliefs I have developed over my surprising career. It is built on strong and tested foundations, and even the thought of it makes me resonate with hope, glee and anticipation. Inclusive and passionate, Wise Children will make exceptional, contemporary, ensemble-based theatre - but its mission is so much more.

Wise Children will be a National Portfolio Organisation, with offices at Spike Island in Bristol.

Roger Graef OBE, Chair of Complicité added, "We're very sad to see Judith and Poppy go but delighted they are going on to something so exciting, and we're looking forward to a new chapter for Complicité."

Complicité will announce their future plans shortly.