LUCY RIDLEY
CREATIVE DIRECTIOR
 Rehearsal, Royal Opera House |  Rehearsal |  Rehearsal, Royal Opera House |
|---|---|---|
 Rehearsal, Royal Opera House |
Over the past 16 years, Lucy has been a pivotal force in the creative industry, producing a diverse array of projects ranging from large-scale immersive shows for Secret Cinema to school workshops, theatrical productions, experimental clown pieces, and experiential brand activations. At the core of her work is a commitment to making play inclusive and accessible to all. Her efforts have reached hundreds of thousands of individuals worldwide, spanning various ages and backgrounds.
Lucy played a crucial role in some of Secret Cinema's most critically acclaimed productions, including Back to the Future, Baz Luhrmann's Moulin Rouge, Blade Runner, Stranger Things with Netflix, Star Wars, Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy, Dr Strangelove, and Dirty Dancing. Over the course of her decade-long collaboration with them, she helped bring to life more than 20 productions for over a million audience members. Lucy was instrumental in creating awe-inspiring collective experiences and in pushing the boundaries of what immersive storytelling can achieve, integrating her passion for play and inclusivity into the very DNA of the company.
As a co-founder and co-artistic director of The People Pile, an innovative dance collective, Lucy collaborated with over 60 organizations and venues both in the UK and internationally. Her expertise in immersive world-building extends globally, having crafted events in the United States, Asia, the UAE, and across Europe.
As a professional dancer and choreographer, Lucy has performed in numerous productions at the Royal Opera House, including Macbeth (directed by Phyllida Lloyd), Eugene Onegin(directed by Kasper Holten), Swan Lake, and Robert le Diable (directed by Laurent Pelly). She was honoured with an invitation to tour in Japan and has worked in several feature films alongside renowned talents such as Edgar Wright, Nicolas Cage, and Kate Winslet.
Recently, Lucy dedicated 18 months to serving as a creative director with HQ Worldwide Shows, where she wrote and designed concepts for a variety of experiential events and award ceremonies across the UAE, including the Red Sea Film Festival, Alula Moments, Bashayer, and the Al Burda Awards
TESTIMONALS
Her audience-focused, holistic approach reliably unlocks areas of exploration and creativity that other directors may overlook. The theatre she creates has the ability to access a playfulness, thoughtfulness and emotionality that lingers in her audiences’ psyches long after narrative details may have faded. She brings a unique talent and perspective to any rehearsal room and has been instrumental in shaping the performer I am today.
James Byng
Actor
Throughout my experience collaborating with Lucy on various high caliber projects in the Middle East, I have been consistently impressed by her unique and dynamic approach to audience engagement. Her ideas extend far beyond the realm of traditional event design and show narrative, showcasing her exceptional artistic vision. What truly sets Lucy apart, however, is her unwavering dedication to converting mere spectators into active participants. She is constantly challenging herself to think unconventionally and find innovative ways to fully immerse the audience in the experience. Her passion for her craft, her experience of live events and commitment to engaging audiences make her an invaluable asset to any project.
Lionel Oury
Senior Creative Director HQWS
Lucy is an inspirational collaborator who is utterly determined to place the audience at the heart of every theatrical experience.
She is a vivid world builder who empowers performers and understands flow, tempo and spectacle in a truly unique way.
She brings all her artistic influences as a performer, choreographer and director to breathe life, joy and wonder into the work that she makes.
Justin Audibert
Artistic Director
Chichester Festival Theatre
Lucy is a creative dynamo and has been a driving force behind many of the fantastical worlds that we have created at Secret Cinema. Lucy's infectious energy and spirit permeates through our performers and importantly into the audience experience. I'd highly recommend her to anyone looking for a creative powerhouse for a project.
Alex Ward
Director of Partnerships
Having worked with Lucy for over 10 years I find myself perpetually inspired by how her creativity and spiritedness brighten a working space. Her working self is consistent, generous and honest. Her contribution to or leadership of a project reliably impressive. And, without fail, a pleasure to be working alongside. Should I be able to collaborate with Lucy for another 10 years and beyond as she evolves, there would be no question.
Amy Rowe
Founder AVR Events
Lucy is a joyous collaborator.
I have worked with Lucy a number of times now, and every time she pushes limits and expectations, all driven by her energetically playful desire to create.
Lucy is never predictable,
or appears to settle on trusted formulae.
Always happy to explore
possibilities and find solutions with others, never getting bogged down by a bias for her own ideas.
She is joyous, inventive and fearless.
Tim Mcquillen-Wright
Set Designer
Lucy is one of a kind.
She brings creativity, fun and professionalism to every project.
A natural choreographer and designer of experiences who elevates the performers she works with by encouraging their talents.
I've loved working with her for more than a decade and hope to do much more together.
Charlotte Dillion
Artistic Director
Head of House
I had the pleasure of working with Lucy across 4 years at Secret Cinema, working across multiple productions.
Lucy always brought pure passion and creativity to every meeting, decision and project.
She thinks outside the box and never tires when it comes to weird and wonderful ideas whilst remaining true to the creative direction, an essential for any authentic creative production.
Ayomi Rupasinghe
Head of Marketing
I've had the pleasure of working with Lucy on some of the most complex immersive theatre shows and events. In amongst all the technology and brand requirements, she has the amazing ability to keep sight of the core reason we're all here and deliver a thoughtful, intricate show an audience can lose themselves in.
lan Galloway
Video Designer & Director
Lucy brings immense energy and creativity to any project I have had the pleasure of working with her on.
A great collaborator - Lucy is attentive and personable.
I would cherish the opportunity to work with her again.
Salvador Bettencourt Avila
Video Designer
Lucy is a visionary and one of the most exciting creatives i've worked with. Her ideas are bold and audacious, yet with a sensitivity to an audience experience that always hits the mark! From my perspective as a composer and music producer, it is always a joyful process to work together as she has an innate musicality, which means we achieve the correct musical output for the productions, directly and precisely.
Tom Chichester-Clark
Composer
Lucy is brilliantly bonkers, wildly creative and gets the job done in equal measure. She has a brilliant energy to bring to a project and it’s always been a pleasure to work with her.
Rhiannon Newman
Producer
I have worked with Lucy for around 3 years, developing and designing concepts and shows for Secret Cinema.
As a director and dancer Lucy naturally finds the rhythm of a show, a process that I adore, rich in colour, character and humour.
She is a very caring, creative and enthusiastic collaborator. In short, I bloody love working with her.
Sean Turner
Set Designer
I have had the pleasure of working with Lucy for the past 15 years.
I have found every time her inspirational creativity has been asset to the theatre making process. She has an ability to ‘think out side the box’ and able to approach creative problems with innovation and invention, shaping the way part of the industry now operate and present work.
I continue to work with her as her welcomed warmth and understanding of people extends throughout all that she does.
Sophia Vi
Associate Director
Lucy brings stand out creative ideas and enriches every creative project with her playfulness and listening.
She is very fluid when it comes to collaboration, listening to colleagues and facilitating an environment where everyone feels welcomed and by virtue she gets the best out of people.
Lucy is an efficient maker and manages resources extremely well and can deliver high quality under pressure.
In short she is brilliant.
Miguel Hernando Torres Uma
Creative Director
Lucy is a phenomenal asset to any creative production!
Lucy consistently demonstrated her ability to come up with ingenious solutions to challenging production obstacles. Her dedication and attention to detail proved invaluable in infusing her creativity in no matter the scale or scope.
She also has a very lovely way of dealing with people and a nurturing side that brings out the best in her team. Her approachable and kind demeanour creates a sense of trust and camaraderie, allowing everyone involved to thrive.
Nicola Blackford
Commercial Director
CREATIONS
PRESS
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
“Truly exhilarating”– Broadway World
''It's the creativity of the event that allows it to be such an overwhelming success''- Broadway world
'Lucy Ridley's creation is wickedly fun and energetic'- London Boxoffice
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
“Mind-blown”– Critical Popcorn
"Every little corner is crammed with some incredible detail,
detail made all the better by the enthusiasm with which the audience is partaking”- The Londonist
'Lucy Ridley's work delighting the audiences and drawing them in'- Londonloveculture
"This is a truly exhilarating, exciting and unpredictable evening that leaves you feeling like a kid again.
Perfectly executed, impeccably organised and wonderfully detailed,
you are unlikely to experience anything quite like it'' - Broadway World
'Its slickly done, from Lucy Ridley's smooth direction'- The Stage
'Lucy's work shows a distinctive energy'- Marita Philips, Royal Opera House
'It wasn't just me who felt the power of The People Pile...the experience was what was most intoxicating'.
- The Swelle Life
'Lucy Ridley ensuring that they perform in thrilling unison'- Review Hub
'Kudos to Lucy for her fine work in Secret Cinema's presentation of Back to the Future'.
- Bob Gale, Creator of Back to the Future
'Funny, articulate and engaging... genius!' -Adam Towndrow
CONTACT
Lucypeopleridley@gmail.com