… is a writer, performer and dramaturg making socially activist theatre that asks big questions with playfulness, both collaborating with other creatives and making her own work. Luca invites an audience to laugh alongside big, contemplative, serious thinkings and feelings. She makes work that explores, plays with, and questions the messy, confusing bits of living. Her first show was about death, her second about politics and her third is about sexual violence. She has worked with sector-leading artists, including Chris Thorpe on Learning How to Die, Paula Varjack on #TheBabyQuestion, and Unfolding Theatre and Selina Thompson on Hold On Let Go. She is an associate artist of ARC Stockton, Unfolding Theatre, and a Third Angel mentee.
Her current show, You Heard Me, is an ARC Stockton production, co-commissioned by Battersea Arts Centre, Cambridge Junction, Theatre in the Mill, Northern Stage and the Albany. You Heard Me is made in collaboration with Maria Crocker, Tanuja Amarasuriya, Melanie Wilson, Bethany Wells, Bethany Gupwell and Linzy Na Nakorn, with initial input from Stephanie McMann and Jenni Jackson.
You Heard Me toured in spring 2022 to ARC Stockton, Northern Stage, Hull Truck Theatre, Theatre in the Mill (Bradford), Cambridge Junction, and the Albany, London.
In autumn 2023 it toured to ARC Stockton, Battersea Arts Centre, The Dukes Lancaster, Queen’s Hall Arts Hexham, ShowRoom Chichester, Sheffield Theatres, Colchester Arts Centre, and the Stephen Joseph Theatre Scarborough.
Luca has also collaborated with Lizzie Klotz on a dance piece with some theatre in it, called a really small dance. She has also worked with Paula Varjack and Catriona James on a theatre piece with lots of dancing in it, called #thebabyquestion. Previous collaborations include work with Action Transport Theatre, fanSHEN, Maddy Costa, RashDash, and Unlimited Theatre.
What other people have to say about Luca and her work:
‘Luca approaches her work with such rigor and generosity – served up with a huge dollop of joy.’ – Selina Thompson
‘Luca has a performance style that openly invites the audience to consider the big questions alongside her, and brings them along willingly in the process of doing that.’ – Chris Thorpe
Visit Luca’s website luca-rutherford.co.uk
Follow Luca on Twitter @Lucarutherford
Follow Luca on Instagram @luca_rutherford
Like Luca on Facebook @lucarutherfordtheatre