Benita Oakley

UK, Performer

Benita was born in London in 1934. She survived the blitz and a dodgy evacuation and started her own play reading group aged 12. She gained a scholarship to Guildhall School of Music and Drama, however a flourishing career in the theatre and radio was halted by the birth of her first child. She became involved in drama education in the 1960s and fought to get the art form into the national curriculum. She has taught dance and drama to children and adults with learning disabilities, and has been involved in amateur theatre and alternative cinema. Benita thought her theatre career was all over until the opportunity arose to work with VDT. Benita devised Motherland in 2012 but due to ill health will be unable to perform the work in 2013. Her voice and role will be maintained within the work, performed by a new cast member. VDT hope Benita will be well enough to rejoin the cast in spring 2014.