Rosa Postlethwaite or Possy (they/she) is a queer performance artist and dramaturg. They work across live art, dance, socially engaged art and theatre. Their work is visually bold, humorous and whole-hearted.
“A Shame-Smashing Delight Of Hilarity” ★★★★★ The Indiependent
“Spellbinding” ★★★★ The Stage
“An intelligent, bold and thought-provoking look at the act of feeling” ★★★★ Liam O’Dell
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Rosa’s performances span a wide range of themes: illness, repair, institutional violence, ecological ruin and colonialism. Their work is self-referential, pointing to how the artwork is in a live process of emerging with the audience. They aim to reimagine ways of relating to one another. Two of their most significant projects are Composed, their solo live art show about a spokesperson and their institution (2019), and PUG performance club night (2016 – 2020).
In 2025, Rosa completed a PhD at Coventry University (UK) and Aarhus University (Denmark). They explored the ethical questions formulated through explicitly multi-species practice with sourdough.
Rosa’s dramaturgy practice considers context, working conditions, the positionality of the team, methods of practice and the potential social and ecological interventions of the project. They mobilise conversation, collective dreaming, and impulsive play to develop new artworks. They are experienced in making captioned, audio-described, integrated BSL interpreted, and Relaxed work in collaboration with consultants and focus groups.
As an artist they have worked with artists and theatre-makers: Hannah Walker, Exodus Crooks, Priya Mistry, Louise Orwin, Laurie Ramsell, Nicola Singh and Tessa Parr among others. They have an on-going collaboration with choreographer, Lizzie Klotz as a dramaturg.
Rosa has presented at GIFT, CLAY takeover at Edinburgh Fringe, Summerhall, Northern Stage, Ikon Gallery, Pleasance Theatre, Bio-arts Birmingham, Muffatwerk Munich (Germany) and ICA Cape Town (South Africa) among other venues. They have facilitated events and workshops at Baltic Contemporary, Vivid Projects, Socially Awkward – The Newbridge Project, Gylleboverket (Sweden) and Peopling the Palace.
Photography on page: Von Fox Productions
Possy 