Faced with the most impossible task of talking about the many years I've spent working in live theatre, I've chosen two productions to sum up my formative years living, sleeping, and eating theatre. Growing up in Cheltenham, I have been blessed with working in both of the town's theatres and was brought up by parents who are devoted to the craft. I have been on tour with a local theatre production company, working to design and build a travelling set, learning to efficiently build and strike within a day. I immersed myself in this world throughout my teens and early twenties, and am proud of every accomplishment to date, from follow spot to set designer, from sound operative to stage manager, I embraced every challenge and opportunity with energy, creativity, and passion. I wish I could share all of it with you!

Road

Set Designer/Decorator & Assistant Director

We shook our local theatre up with this performance of Jim Cartwright's Road. We took inspiration from Theatre of Cruelty in this promenade production. All the props were set on the stage in the 'rubbish tip'; the actors took from this what they needed for their scenes. We performed without curtains or legs and there were no bows. We exposed the theatre space, its mechanics and hid nothing from the audience in a visual sense. We wanted the audience to experience what the actors gave them and leave those who saw this production with a 'total theatre experience' - no catharsis.

From the outset, the actors never broke character. There was a pre-show, a 'comedy act' on stage and action in the bar at the interval; properly immersing the audience in the world of 'Road'.

Avenue Q

Props Master & Set Builder/Dresser

The puppets were the only part of the props or set hired in specifically for this production, we designed and built everything else! The set took weeks to construct; it really was an enormous project, which, at times, felt like we'd never finish! We worked to limited time constraints for the 'get in' and had to manage some serious health and safety aspects of the set build efficiently. One of the most challenging projects I've ever worked on, but it was enormously rewarding and just so much fun! To date, the production is fondly remembered by everyone who worked on it and saw it!