Ophelia at Bedales Memorial Library
​Experience Ophelia, a feminist reimagining of Shakespeare’s Hamlet, through contemporary dance and theatre, brought to you by Chhaya Collective and Shakespeare in Motion. Leaning into themes of mental health and unrequited love, it re-imagines Ophelia through the lens of feminine empowerment, giving voice to a woman whose story has been overshadowed for centuries.​
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This powerful performance features Chiara Irrera as Ophelia and Thomas Kerek as Hamlet.
Choreographed by Kay Crook (Chhaya Collective) in collaboration with Sean Moss and dancers.
Co-directed by Kay Crook and Aileen Gonsalves, assisted by Ruby De Ville Morel.
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Music edited by Ruby De Ville Morel and Kay Crook, featuring music from Garth Stevenson's album 'Flying', Cam Crook (Chhaya Collective's Musical Director), 'MAIAR' by Syiphorous and recorded text from 'Hamlet' by William Shakespeare.
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'Ophelia' is available for touring from November 2025 - 2027.
For further information and booking enquiries contact us below.
Duration: 60 minutes
MEET THE TEAM
KAY CROOK
Artistic Director, Choreographer
Kay Crook is a freelance dance artist and Artistic Director of Chhaya Collective, a female-led contemporary dance company, working between Devon and India since 2013 and Shakespeare in Motion, founded in 2024.
Kay choreographed Chhaya's international touring productions, Falling Light, HYMNOS, KHAOS and Ophelia (2024) and has been commissioned to make work for Jasmin Vardimon Company (UK), Mountview (UK), Mapdance (UK), PERA (North Cyprus), Attakkalari (India), 3Fall (UK), Grace & Growl (UK), BSU Dance (UK), FITIJ (Portugal).
Kay is the Founder and Director of Chhaya Youth Dance Company (who represented the South West at UDance Nationals 2023 and 2018) and Wild Workshops for Women, delivered with PDSW and WOW Festival.
Kay has been Associate Lecturer for Attakkalari and PERA and worked with PDSW, WOW, Kerala National Theatre (India), 101 Outdoor Arts (UK), Barbican Theatre, Tanzart-Kirschau (Germany), LAB-Arts (Portugal), In2it Festival (Norway) and HIFA (Zimbabwe) and delivered workshops for Northern School of Contemporary Dance, Jasmin Vardimon Company, StopGap Dance Company, Mountview, Falmouth University, Bath Spa University, Chichester University, Exeter University, Sheffield University, Arts University Bournemouth and Oxford School of Drama.
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​Kay currently works as a performer with Chhaya Collective, State of Emergency, Heather Walrond Company, in collaboration with VOU Dance Company (Fiji).
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Kay is also a Movement Director, directing for Le Navet Bete, Northcott Theatre, Cygnet Theatre, Aileen Gonsalves (Butterfly Theatre), Oxford School of Drama and Southwark Playhouse.​
AILEEN GONSALVES
Director / Dramaturg
Aileen Gonsalves has over 28 years experience of working in theatre television, film and radio. She has worked extensively at the RSC including directing Dame Judi Dench, Sir Simon Russell Beale and acting alongside Vanessa Redgrave.
She is the founder of Butterfly Theatre Company who specialise in immersive site responsive Shakespeare in extraordinary locations of natural and architectural beauty, including cave labyrinths, historic castles and ancient woodlands across Europe.
She has developed a pioneering acting method called the Gonsalves Method which is now being taught across drama schools and universities. It seeks to make performers more alive, connected and authentic and to produce work that makes the audience and performer feel something real moment to moment. It produces heart opening, unforgettable experiences.
She has recently published her book Shakespeare and Meisner co written with Dr Tracy Irish and their second book for Bloomsbury, An Introduction to the Gonsalves Method, is due out next year.
She is an associate director for Kali Theatre Company and has worked with Chhaya Collective and Kay Crook since 2018.
CHIARA IRRERA
Dancer, Ophelia
Chiara is a dance artist from Italy. She graduated with a First-Class Honours degree from Northern School of Contemporary Dance.
After graduation she joined JV2 in 2023 and toured with choreographers Alex Stavropoulos, Kay Crook and Jasmin Vardimon MBE. During this time, she found herself interested in teaching and directing choreography as well as researching truthfulness in movement and storytelling.
Chiara now teaches and facilitates community classes and workshops for Jasmin Vardimon Company and became Programme Leader for JV2 in 2025.
Chiara is now performing in the new re staged version of 'Ophelia' by Kay Crook for Chhaya Collective and Shakespeare in Motion.
THOMAS KEREK
Dancer, Hamlet
Thomas joined the Jasmin Vardimon Company in 2025 for NOW, and currently performing the re-staged production of 'Ophelia' by Kay Crook for Chhaya Collective and Shakespeare in Motion.
Thomas joined the Jasmin Vardimon Company in 2025 for now. Prior to this Thomas performed in the remounted Venusburg scene from Tannhäuser at the Royal Opera house in 2023. Thomas was a member of the Dancers Cast in the creation for the opera Carmen at Glyndenbourne in 2024.
Thomas completed his training at Northern school of contemporary dance in 2023, before continuing his training at JV2 from October 2023 till April 2024
RUBY DE VILLE MOREL
Assistant Movement Director, Double for Role of Ophelia
Ruby is a dance artist, actor and Movement Director from Devon.
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Since graduating from Trinity Laban in 2022 she has been working professionally across theatre, dance and film. Ruby has directed, choreographed and performed in work nationally and internationally.
This year she toured the UK with Flibbertigibbet Theatre playing the clown in their show The Farmer & The Clown and SPLAT! with OfTheJackel.
Ruby is currently working with Chhaya Collective and Shakespeare in Motion as Assistant Movement Director, Community Outreach Lead and is also a double for the role of Ophelia.
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SEAN MOSS
Co-Choreographer & Dancer, Hamlet
Sean completed his formal training at Northern School of Contemporary Dance, graduating in 2018, and prior to this was a member of the 2014-2015 National Youth Dance Company.
In 2018, he joined 2Faced Dance Company as a full-time dance artist, performing works by Tamsin Fitzgerald and Lenka Vagnerova. Sean then joined Joss Arnott Dance in 2019 for their outdoor work PULSE! before embarking on a month-long tour of Aakash Odedra’s #Je Suis throughout Germany and Italy, working as both a performer and rehearsal director. He then went on to create a new work with Caitlin Barnett Company, before joining James Wilton Dance Company in February 2020 touring The Storm. In 2021 Sean created his first choreographic work Last Orders on 2Faced Dance Company, continuing the narrative of the work in his first film (also titled Last Orders) in collaboration with 2Faced Dance and Sam Amos.
Sean joined Jasmin Vardimon Company in mid 2021 for the creation of their Alice in VR Wonderland experience, remaining with the company for the production of the live stage show Alice in 2022, performing the remounted Venusberg scene from Tannhäuser at the Royal Opera House in 2023 and is currently touring NOW with the company throughout 2024/25. In early 2024 Sean joined Chhaya Collective for the creation and premiere of Ophelia.
Sean is currently the joint associate artist at Pavilion Dance South West and Swindon Dance for 2024-26.
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REVIEWS
""I felt every moment...
The storytelling was sophisticated, thoughtful, and real...
A truly immersive and powerful experience."
Martin Berry, Creative Director & Chief Executive of Exeter Northcott Theatre 2025
“The dance was emotional, dramatic, very good”​
“loved the dancing” “sensational”
“amazing dancers” “spectacular”
“Dance performance was incredible”
Audience Members, Russell Cotes Gallery 2024
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“Such a fabulous and special way of bringing dance together with the community.” “Powerfully moving, imaginative & playful... a defiantly feminine stand against oppression.”
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Audience Members, Newton Abbot Museum 2025
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“For a historic house environment with paintings and objects on open display, live performance or dance can be a challenge. We were reassured by Kay and Sean’s professionalism and awareness of the space and our restrictions.The performance was adapted to suit the unconventional surroundings it would take place in. The dance itself was intense, immersive and dramatically captivating. It was a highlight of the event and enjoyed by all of visitors”.
Elissa Killey, Learning and Engagement Officer of Russell Cotes