About Me
I have been sitting on a chair wearing a black suit with the Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain for the last 15 years, playing and singing in world class concert houses and theatres all over America, China, Australia, New Zealand, Scandinavia, Europe and the UK.
Playing uke has led to my meeting dignitaries like Morph, Paddington Bear and Meatloaf, as well as appearing with Ant & Dec, Robbie Williams, Channel 4’s Jon Snow and for, The Queen.
It’s been humbling to be part of a band that could count two of my personal heroes – the late David Bowie and wonderful, Victoria Wood, amongst its many admirers.
'Iconoclastic'
'The best musical entertainment in the country'
Photo Copyright Alli Burke
Leisa's Audio Projects
Creative State is a sound voyage with six female creatives who make their own work.
How and why do we create and what happens when we don’t? Are creative states the same for everyone? Do we need to be in one to make work and how do we navigate out of the wilderness of a creative block? Listen with headphones.
Leisa on Video - from the archives
Leisa Rea in ‘Pension Plan’ – A Mardi Gras For the Mildly Depressed, 2010
Before full-time orchestral duties, I was an actor, director, comedy writer/performer and teacher.
I wrote ‘Pension Plan – a Mardi Gras for the Mildly Depressed‘ back in 2010, which received high praise at the Edinburgh Comedy Festival.
‘A gorgeous mess of mixed stupidity and wandering genius‘ [SNIPE].
‘From random victory jigs to foetus-shaped biscuits… it’s a pleasure to see a middle-aged lady dicking about‘ [THE LIST].
I followed that with a show about creative procrastination called ‘B*stard Legs & Other Shows I Haven’t Written‘, where I fed the audience pizza I’d ordered during the show, and performed unhinged leg routines.
‘Rubber-legged joy‘ [The Ethel Mermaids]
‘Rea is at her best when she’s her natural haphazard self – a trait she woos and turns into comedy with an ample supply of self-deprecation‘ [Fringe Review].
Once, I was one half of the double-act, Adams & Rea. We wrote & performed songs together, gigged nationally, appeared on BBC Radio 4 and BBC Radio 7 and won the Musical Comedy Awards in 2009. It seemed only right after that to quit and go our seperate ways!
For a couple of years I was a fixture of cult comedy Victorian sideshow act, The Congress of Oddities, for whom I regularly transformed into superfreak The Biscuit-Eyed Lady. Yup.
I also worked with a pre-famous Miranda Hart back then. I did a couple of theatre projects with her, wrote on her BBC Radio show, Joke Shop, and later on a couple of episodes of the BAFTA nominated Miranda.
I’ve been an associate artist with shape-shifters Clod Ensemble, and a creative consultant for several arts organisations, including advising on the ‘clown band’ for the 70th Anniversary show ‘Holiday on Ice’.
For relaxation, I play in an all female rockband with my friends. Partly because I can’t afford golf clubs.
'Rea has an unerring eye for the absurd.'
Leisa Rea in Glitterbush, Hoxton 2018
Altogether Now
Lessons
I offer solo and group lessons for Adults and Children of all abilities, from ‘never picked up a Uke before’ to ‘already rocking out in a band’ – plus everything in-between. Tailored to suit your needs.
Workshops
A cost effective way for larger groups of uke players of all abilities to learn new tricks and get more out of playing together. Contact me if you have specific song requirements.
Performance Coaching
Want my help overcoming nerves, preparing for a gig, song writing or working on stage presence? Let’s silence those inner critics and unlock your potential.
