I am an experienced theatre maker; small, medium and large-scale, site specific, building based, and touring. I have many years’ experience of scene painting and prop making. I have headed teams of scenic artists on large-scale productions such as pantos, but am equally happy working alone. Trained in design, I am an inventive yet practical person; used to working to budget and tight timescales, with a wide knowledge base in all aspects of technical theatre. I have run classes in design and performance. I am a skilled scenic artist, builder, prop and costume maker. I have experience in sculpting in various materials and am used to turning 2D designs into 3D reality. I have worked as a scenic artist for theatre and TV.

 

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Employment Record:

 

2015- Now: Freelance Theatre Maker. Most recently I designed ‘The Frog Prince’ a touring production for BumbleFly and Forest Forge Theatre Co. For this I created the Frog Puppet and various other props. Recently I have been developing a new piece of theatre/installation art based on Homelessness called ‘My Wildest Dreams’ working with homeless charities in Greater Manchester. I designed ‘A Kidnapping’ For Swaggering Crow Theatre Company, at the Hope Mill Theatre, Manchester. I wrote, directed and designed three professional touring theatre productions; ‘The Frog Prince,’ ‘The Elves and The Shoemaker’ and ‘Hansel and Gretel’ for Forest Forge and Bumblefly Theatre Company. I have also worked as Scenic Artist on many productions including ‘Parklife Festival’ (2 years running) ‘A midsummer Night’s Dream’ for CBBC, and shows for Oldham Coliseum, Bath Theatre Royal and Liverpool Everyman.

1994- 2015. Forest Forge Theatre Company. Resident Designer/Associate Director 

Designed over 70 productions which toured nationally and internationally. I painted and made props for every production.

 

2003-2004, Oldham Coliseum Theatre. Freelance Designer                     

Designed 3 large scale productions at this rep theatre, ‘The Invisible Man’ (Nominated, Manchester Evening News Theatre Award, Best Design.)‘April in Paris’ and ‘Robin Hood’. All directed by Kevin Shaw.

 

1991-1994. Salisbury Playhouse. Resident Designer/ Scenic Artist                      

Designed many shows, both in the studio and main house. I also led a team of up to four scenic artists. I built a twenty-foot-high giant for the production ‘Jack and The beanstalk’ Plus giant sunflowers and a giant Dandelion for a production of Midsummer Night’s Dream.

 

1990-1991. Various London Theatres. Freelance Designer/Scenic Artist/Builder

Worked on many shows including at The National Theatre, Almeida Theatre, Queen Elizabeth Hall, Paris Opera House, Battersea Arts Centre. Tricycle Theatre and ICA.

 

Training:

Post-graduate course in Theatre Design at Motley Design Course 1989-1990.

Diploma in Technical Theatre Arts at Rose Bruford College. 1986-1989.

 

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