Audiences across Rye and Sussex are mourning the loss of acclaimed actor, playwright and performer Heather Alexander, whose remarkable one-woman shows became a highlight of recent Rye Arts Festivals.
Heather, who has died following a short illness, was a gifted storyteller with the rare ability to hold an audience spellbound through the power of words, character and performance alone.
Many in Rye will remember her unforgettable appearances at Rye Arts Festival. In 2024 she brought Havisham to Rye Community Centre, delivering a performance that left audiences captivated and earned a standing ovation. Writing in Rye News at the time, festival-goers described the production as “a masterclass in acting” and “completely absorbing.”
She returned in 2025 with Becoming Mrs Danvers, another powerful one-woman production. The performance drew widespread praise from local audiences, with one attendee commenting that it was “intense live theatre at its best.”
In a statement, Pat Driver from Rye Players paid tribute to the actor. “ Heather possessed that rare gift of making things happen. Wherever there was a performance, a festival, a fundraiser or a creative project, she seemed somehow to be at its heart.
“Through her, I was introduced to the Hastings Fringe Festival, which she led and organised for many years with remarkable energy and vision. The Jo Brand event at the White Rock Theatre was hugely successful and a core memory of mine is rocking with laughter at Heather’s performance of a monologue: a parody of an Oscar acceptance speech that really showcased her comedic skills.
“Since then I saw her embody Shirley Valentine, Annie Brassey, Virginia Woolf, Miss Havisham and Mrs Danvers in spectacular shows performed, and mostly written, by that one spectacular woman.
“Looking back, it is difficult to think of the cultural life of Hastings and the surrounding area without recognising the enormous contribution she made. Her influence extended far beyond the events she organised; she created connections, encouraged talent and fostered a sense of possibility wherever she went. She will be greatly missed.”
For Rye Arts Festival audiences, Heather Alexander will be remembered not only as a talented actor and writer, but as a performer who could transform a simple stage into an unforgettable theatrical experience. Her ability to connect with audiences, move them to tears and leave them talking long after the curtain fell was a rare gift.
Niki and Andy Stuart, directors of Rye Arts Festival added, “In recent years, with her one- woman shows investigating the imagined back stories of strong literary women, Heather’s performances have been highlights of Rye Arts Festival. The consummate professional, her performances were always an acting tour de force, backed by gripping stories that she had written. She will be hugely missed, with much fondness.
“Heather herself had an amazing back story, but, sadly, only she could mix the facts with fiction, write the script and play herself to give it the performance it would deserve. Heather is gone but won’t be forgotten.”
Our thoughts are with her family, friends and fellow performers at this sad time.
Image Credits: Kt bruce .