About me
My very first theatre job was in 2013, with Eastern Angles Theatre Company.
I'd graduated the previous summer from Exeter University with a MFA in Staging Shakespeare, so I was a little surprised to find my first job as Assistant Director on a verbatim musical about New Town planning... Parkway Dreams was the first of numerous jobs with Eastern Angles, culminating in directing their 2020 Spring Tour Red Skies. 2020 being what it was, we were able to revive the show for a shortened tour the following year.
Despite a background in Shakespeare, much of my directing work has focused on
new writing - including short runs, various readings and scratch nights. I enjoy that 'new ground' feeling, and have been lucky to have opportunities to take work from scratch night to full performance.
My credits range in size and scale. I'm a big fan of touring, but would love to do more building-based productions. I particularly enjoy text-based work, and have considerable skill in that area. I've also learned a great deal from designers. Collaboration is such a key part of theatre, especially when you find
those you really click with.
Although I didn't experience much live theatre in school, I am a real believer in the power of the arts and its role in education. There are challenges to creating work for schools and young people but I look forward to developing existing ideas
in the near future.
For a detailed look at my experience, please see the Credits page.
With Kait Feeney
Photo by Steve Adams
In 2015 I founded Up The Road Theatre, a small-scale, touring theatre company. We make work for remote or rural audiences - those with limited access to live theatre. We have created and toured three shows so far. Bardolph's Box was our first outing, in collaboration with Unity Theatre, Liverpool. We initially toured in spring 2016, then again that autumn. In 2017, we started work on Peril at Sea, in association with New Theatre Royal Portsmouth. Peril toured in spring 2019. In 2020 we received ACE funding to start developing Beneath the Banner, which we were eventually able to tour in spring 2023. All of our touring productions received Grants for the Arts / Project Grants from Arts Council England.
In 2022 Up The Road were commissioned to create an outdoor show
for Her Late Majesty's Platinum Jubilee, in our home county of Kent.
In other news... I live in Hertfordshire, but I'm a Kent girl at heart.
My family have a Husky-Labrador, who loves to talk to people. (Almost literally!)
The most exotic travelling I have ever done was a trip to Borneo after I finished university. I travelled with the UK Orangutan Foundation and had an incredible time.
I'm a member of The Woodland Trust, and would like to see more protection for our natural environments.
Buying me a coffee? Oat milk and de-caff please, as I have IBS. Or a mint tea.
I'm not very good with social media...
Filming a Peril at Sea
video "postcard"
"A lively, entertaining and exuberant production."
School Governor on Bardolph's Box
