Benji Reid

 Benji Reid is a creative producer, devisor and director. He trained as a dancer with the Northern School of Contemporary Dance and as an actor with Philippe Gaullier and Double Edge Theatre.

Following his years as a freelance performer he formed BREAKING CYCLES. Benji’s dance background includes; 1985 GLC Break-Dance Champions with Broken Glass Street Crew, European Body-Popping Champion and 2nd in the 1986 World Dance Championships. In 1989 Benji worked with the legendary Soul II Soul as the main dancer and (co)-choreographer for their world tour, appearing on the Arsino Hall show and playing at the Soul Train Awards. In theatre Benji has worked widely with such highly regarded companies as the David Glass Ensemble, Trestle Theatre, Theatr Clwyd and Black Mime Theatre.  It was with Black Mime Theatre that Benji first became interested in directing.   Benji Reid has been creating Hip Hop Theatre for over ten years.  His first production was co-directing Jonzi D's solo of 'Aeroplane Man' in 1996 and in the same year he toured 'Paper Jackets', a one-man show he wrote and starred in.  In 1998 Benji went on to direct his first main stage play, hip hop musical 'Avalanche' for Nottingham Playhouse.  This became the foundation for BREAKING CYCLES the company