Workshops & teaching
Experience, education and training
I'm a playwright, teacher and occasional performer based in the West Midlands (UK).
I have an MA in Playwriting Studies from the University of Birmingham (2000) and a BA (Hons) in Drama from University College Worcester (first) (1997).
I've been writing plays since 1992. I've had four main stage professional productions: The Same River and Inheritance, Red Skies Over the Severn (Worcester Swan Theatre, 2001), and Upside Down and Back to Front, (artworcs, 2005).
In 2002 I was commissioned by Birmingham Repertory Theatre to write a play, Rolling News, based on a 24 hour television news channel. This play was never produced but did have some workshop shows over many years.
I've written (and helped devise) several plays for young people. The most popular of these, now, has had several productions. I've also worked on, performed in and written large cast community plays.
In 2001 I was invited to workshop at the National Theatre Studio.
In 2002/3 I was Pearson writer-in-residence first with Worcester Swan Theatre and then, after its closure, with New Theatre Works in Hereford.
In 2004 I was selected to be a member of BBC Radio Drama's Sparks writers group. BBC Radio 4 then commissioned me to adapt Upside Down and Back to Front for their Afternoon Play slot in 2006. In 2007 I was commissioned to write a drama documentary about cycling and jazz called The Climb. It featured original music by - and an interview with - Soweto Kinch.
In 2003 conceptual artist Sheila Farrell, arts administrator Deborah Rees, audio producer and theatre director Peter Leslie Wild and I co-founded the arts production company artworcs. In 2005, artworcs commissioned and produced Upside Down and Back to Front, a play inspired by photography and storytelling.
In 2010 I took a sideways move into heritage interpretation (including writing and presenting scenarios for live interpretation). Nowadays I'm writing mainly short pieces, particularly with art\write. I've recently started working on full-length plays again.
I have directed public rehearsed readings of plays by other writers including work by Mo Murrie, Rose Miller and Nicola Jones.
I have taught playwriting and/or drama at Birkbeck College at the University of London, The University of Birmingham, Birmingham City University, The University of Worcester and Brunel University.
I have run workshops and courses for youth theatres, schools, adult education, theatre companies and playwriting organisations.
I have been a script reader for several companies and playwriting organisations.
Examples of courses taught
Birkbeck College, University of London
I gave a Drama Masterclass in June 2006. I was on Birkbeck's panel of lecturers for Creative Writing from 2006 until 2012 and taught a playwriting module there every year.
Brunel University
I taught on the Introduction to Writing Drama module.
Mousetrap Theatre Projects in conjunction with writernet and The Citizenship Foundation
May-July 2007. An in school project at Park View Academy, Tottenham. A series of playwriting workshops with year 8 and 10 pupils. The work was inspired by Diane Samuels' play Kindertransport and citizenship issues. A showcase of selected work from participating schools was presented at The Arts Theatre in July 2007.
postSCRIPT
postSCRIPT were a Birmingham-based performance writers' group. I ran a series of full day Saturday workshops for them at Millennium Point in 2006. The mentoring scheme was supported by SCRIPT
Midlands Arts Centre (mac)
A Creative Playwriting Course taught with Deborah Catesby. This was a fortnightly course for first time playwrights. The course ran over 2 terms. It first ran in 2002/3 and again in 2003/4. In 2004/5 I taught it solo.
artworcs
In October 2005 I ran a one day Writing for Theatre workshop for artworcs at The Number 8 Community Arts Centre in Pershore. In 2005 I ran a series of workshops with Sheila Farrell as part of artworcs' Upside Down and Back to Front project. I ran a Making a Scene one-day playwriting for beginners workshop for the company in 2003.
Swan Playwrights
I was a founder member of this performance writers' group. I led several playwriting workshops for them. I directed a showcase for them in December 2003.
Birmingham City University
From 2003 until 2009 I was a part-time drama lecturer at BCU teaching Writing for Performance, Drama, Theories of Performance and Modern British Drama modules.
The University of Worcester
I've taught drama modules on Theatre Reviewing and British TV Drama. I have guest lectured on playwriting at undergraduate and masters level.
University of Birmingham
Guest lecture (2002) on writing for community theatre for the MPhil in Playwriting Studies. In July 2004 Deborah Catesby and I ran A Play in a Week summer course for their continuing education centre.
Worcester Swan Theatre
Sessional worker leading writing workshops for young people at schools and colleges in Worcestershire and Herefordshire. 2002/3 Pearson writer-in-residence.
New Theatre Works / Hereford Courtyard
2003 Pearson writer-in-residence. After the residency finished I continued to work with NTW, assisting with their New Playwrights group and directing for their new writing showcases.
Script reading
For SCRIPT (formerly Stagecoach!), Worcester Swan Theatre, New Theatre Works, f-l-i-p and Swan Playwrights.
Mentoring
Trained as a mentor with A+MTC. In 2003/4 I mentored a playwright as part of her ACEWM Creative Ambitions award.
Youth theatre
Sessional worker at Worcester Swan Theatre from 1998-2002.