I am a professional theatre-maker today because I was a participant as a young person. From my own experiences, I know that the arts can change the way we look at the world and help us live more connected lives. Since those days I have been involved in many forms of theatre-making;  I ran my own small-scale touring company, I have worked for theatre companies and arts development agencies, I have been a writer and director, a producer and manager, a teacher and workshop leader – most often I find myself being a collaborator.

I have always been happy for my arts practice to be put at the service of another agenda – to explore an issue or to promote a debate. Social change and community development are part of the reason I am a professional theatre-maker –and what that applied art can do often seems more important to me than what might be called pure art. A live shared-experience can bring people together in a way that little else can do, it can promote debate and create connections all whilst entertaining and beguiling us. I think that I aspire to creating events which are intimate rather than spectacular; I want my art to be modest but significant.

Since the summer of 2016 I have been working as the co-Artistic Director of Hampshire’s Blue Apple Theatre. In December 2016 our first show together (an adaptation of ‘It’s A Wonderful Life’) will be staged at Winchester’s Tower Theatre and the creative team have very exciting plans for summer 2017 at the Theatre Royal Winchester which will remain under wraps until January…