I've spent my 50 of my 70 years so far working as a theatre maker, specialising in intergenerational theatre, promenade shows, pantomime (local, bespoke, crafted) and making theatre with community.
After working with London Bubble for exactly 30 years I grasped the opportunity to finally go to Uni and completed an MA in Poetics of Imagination at Dartington College. Since graduating I've been writing a book on Vernacular Theatre and fundraising for Pie Factory Music.
Before Bubble I ran the Dukes in Lancaster and had a short stint at York Theatre Royal so I'm blessed to have seen how building based organisations run and then how a company serving a community with projects can run.
Now I find myself thinking and writing about it all and talking to other artists about their work, and place in society. Occasionally I help with their direction, sometimes it makes sense.
Born 1954
Trained London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts (1972 ish), then took an MA in Poetics of Imagination at Dartington College (2021-22).
Stage Manager from 1973 onwards - New Shakespeare Company, Grass Roots Theatre and Theatr Clwyd.
Assistant then Associate Director at Theatre Clwyd where work included directing and adapting:
Portrait of the Artist As a Young Dog (which transferred to the Kings Head in London)
Hitch Hikers Guide To The Galaxy (UK tour)
Co-founded Theatre Camel, to barn storm the small theatre of Wales, shows included:
Gone With the Wind
The Paranormal Review
Gormenghast
Freelanced for a couple of years, highlights…
The Secret Agent (adapted and directed with Incubus Theatre)
Where the Fire Has Been (a community play for Stockwell Green)
1984 appointed Artistic Director of The Duke’s Theatre, Lancaster. Programmed, and usually directed seasons of work - Shakespeare, Sondheim, Pantomime and new plays by local writers. Favourites include…
Sweeney Todd
The Duchess of Malfi
Jude The Obscure
The Winter’s Tale, Pravda
The Changeling
Romeo and Juliet
The Gambler Macbeth and Volpone (which was an excuse to gradually flood the Dukes’ studio theatre)
All while dodging funding cuts and overseeing a programme of rural touring and participatory work - it was a learning experience.
1988 appointed Artistic Director of York Theatre Royal. Big mistake (but that’s a story for another time).
Shows included:
It’s A Girl
Epsom Downs
Oliver.
Good work, shame about the Board.
1989 appointed Artistic Director of London Bubble. I worked at Bubble for exactly 30 years, during which time my job title changed to Creative Director. I was given the opportunity to find out how a company might work closely with a ‘community’ - strategies included founding programmes of work for people in different stages of life - to help children tell their stories, teenagers share and explore the issues they were encountering, elders to meet and make theatre.
We ran ongoing age specific groups for participants - youth theatre, the infamous BAD group (Bubble Adult Drama), created intergenerational shows (See Vernacular Theatre) and opened The Rotherhithe Shed.
Twice a year there were professional shows, designed to bring people of all ages together - Promenading in parks and woods of South East London, Pantomimes at the Albany, Cochrane and Greenwich Theatres.
Notable productions include:
A Midsummer Night’s Dream
Lords and Ladies
The Odyssey
The Sirens of Titan
Metamorphosis
Gilgamesh (the oldest story to be written down (and survive), adapted as a community outdoor promenade to mark the turning of the millennium)
