Becky Truman
Founder and Artistic Director of the award winning Skinning The Cat, Becky Truman, graduated with BA (Hons) Art & Design in 1988.
“I had a brilliant time at Bradford College.
What I wanted to do wasn’t just performance
or fine art, so when I found an art & design
degree that catered for generalists and
allowed them to work in a complex way across
the spectrum I thought I had died and gone
to heaven. Tutors gave me a free reign but
support and College had good community
arts links. College gave me projects but I was
able to tailor them to fit what I wanted to do.
When I was in the 2nd year of my degree
I convinced Tom Clinton of the Bradford’s
Bouncing Back campaign to give me £2000
of their budget to stage a fashion cabaret
showcasing designers in a nightclub. I had a
ball! For my final degree show I did an aerial
performance featuring my own costumes and
sculptures at Carlton Bolling theatre workshop.
Then the Bradford Festival commissioned me
to organise a fashion cabaret and perform a
trapeze show in the Wool Exchange. This work
formed the basis for Skinning the Cat and
after I got Princes Trust funding to buy a van,
I was set.”
The company was the first in the UK to tour
on an aerial rig and pioneered contemporary
circus. They went on to tour Europe to critical
acclaim. In 1993 Becky was awarded the
Prince’s Youth Business Trust Young Achiever
of the Year award presented by Jasper Conran
and was featured in Martin Miller’s book
The Best of British Women. Becky created
a special show for the Millennium Dome
and she was artistic director for the 2002
Commonwealth Games Opening and Closing
ceremonies in the Sponsor’s Village.
Photograph supplied by Becky Truman