Kate Hood had a career as an able-bodied actor for over twenty years, performing in everything from classics to musicals. Some credits: Prisoner (Grundy’s), Big River (Gordon Frost Productions), Diving for Pearls (Melbourne Theatre Company), Marat Sade (State Theatre Company, Adelaide).
She became a wheelchair user over a decade ago and reinvented herself as a disabled writer, director and theatre maker. She directed Quippings: Freaktastic Fringe at Melba Spiegeltent – Melbourne Fringe and won a Writers Victoria mentorship to work on her play ‘Ruthie’. Credits: Bolinda Audio Books, Quippings, Words in Winter Festival, Newstead Short Story Tattoo, Sync Leadership Intensive.
Current credits: Cost of Living – Queensland Theatre, Sydney Theatre Co, Peacemongers – Darebin Speakeasy, That’s Why the Lady Needs a Ramp – Footscray Arts Centre, Elephant Man – Besen Directing Placement – Malthouse Theatre, Neighbours – Freemantle Media, Malthouse Theatre – Contest development, Enunciations – SNAP Disability Arts Festival, Raspberry Ripple Productions – Company/Artist In Residence – FCAC
She mentors others, directs and writes, and was a founder and Deputy Chair of Actors Equity’s Diversity Committee.
Her theatre company Raspberry Ripple Productions dissolves the divide by making original, accessible theatre using mainstream and disabled artists.