ABOUT ME

a little bit

ACTING

Slide1 (2).JPG

MA, BA, FRSA, FVCM, LLAM, LALAM,
ALAM, ATCL, ANEA, GSMD, Cert. GSMD, MSTSD (Adj.)

"She had always wanted words, she loved them: grew up on them.

Words gave her clarity, brought reason, shape".

Michael Ondaatjie, The English Patient

ADJUDICATING AND EXAMINING

I am an adjudicator for the

British and International Federation of Festivals, an examiner for the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (LAMDA), and a GCSE and A level specialist.

Untitled

DIRECTING

I have recently directed More Myself Than I Am

for the 2019 Edinburgh Fringe Festival.

for

In 2004, I founded Close Up Theatre

- a semi-professional Fringe company - for Dean Close School. This company was awarded the elite 'Sell Out' status every year since inception, and has garnered critical and commercial acclaim at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.

In 2014, I was created a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts for my work in youth theatre, which includes facilitation and

Artistic Direction for No Prophet Theatre, Eleventh Hour Theatre

and Talking Shadows Theatre.

TEACHING

Slide1 (2).JPG

My biographical play about the lives of the Bronte sisters

- More Myself Than I Am - premiered at the 2019 Edinburgh Fringe.

I studied Journalism, Film & Broadcasting at

Cardiff University. My career as a freelance writer began on

The Guardian newspaper whilst still at University,

and I am currently a critic for Theatreworld Magazine.

I regularly write to commission for children's theatre and youth performance, and have recently adapted

Jane Eyre and 1984 for the stage.

I trained as a specialist Speech & Drama teacher

with Rona Laurie and Susan Ford at the

Guildhall School of Music and Drama,

I hold the LAMDA Teaching Licentiate; and an MA in the

Advanced Teaching of Shakespeare from Warwick University.

I was Head of Speech & Drama at Dean Close School for sixteen years, and have extensive experience of teaching in primary and senior schools (state and independent), youth clubs, performing arts schools, and private tuition.

I am the co-Principal of the Cheltenham School of Drama.

Untitled

4D313964-7901-4EA6-9BD9-23715296C940_edi

WRITING

I trained as an actor at the London Centre for Theatre Studies

- where tutors included Jenny Lipman, Penny Cherns, Brigid Panet,

Andrew Jarvis, John Jones, George Hall - and I hold performance qualifications from LAMDA (Licentiate), the Guildhall (Diploma)

and Trinity College (Associateship). Credits include off-West End,

Fringe, tour, educational theate and voiceover.