rodney ford, resident designer

Rodney started his career in theatre singing with the chorus of the Royal Opera House. He managed to do this un-noticed for two years whilst being employed as an extra (gentleman super) on secondment from the Grenadier Guards. He found joining in with the singing irresistible. After serving Queen and country and audience at Covent Garden he briefly attended drama school in Birmingham. From there he found employment as a railway porter on a one-man station.

After some unfortunate adventures which became local then national news (stories in another addition) he was fortunately rescued by the Birmingham Rep, much to the joy of British Rail’s passengers. After a colourful spell as an actor, painter and prop maker he settled down as a designer and hobby sheep farmer. Rodney has since worked as a designer throughout Britain and all over the world.

At the Queen’s Theatre, Hornchurch Rodney has designed, amongst many others, Jane Eyre and Return to the Forbidden Planet, Women on the Verge of HRT at Coventry, and Aladdin at Ipswich.

Rodney has now stopped breeding sheep after more than 25 years.