Biography
Trained on the Motley Theatre Design Course, I was lucky enough to be taught by the legendary Percy Harris and by Alison Chitty who ran the course at the time. For those not in the know, Motley was a unique training in theatre which involved an intensive year working with incredible professionals and directors. The course ran with only ten students to provide this very focused training. I previously read English Literature at UEA. I still live in London where I was born, although I have travelled extensively and see the experience of other cultures as a formative part of my creativity.
My design approach is heavily influenced by my Motley training and text-based background. This means that the script remains paramount, and the relationship with the Director is central to my process. It was a very deliberate choice for me not to become a fine artist, but a practitioner. In theatre we do not work alone, but collaboratively, as a team. I love the variation of this job, constantly working with new directors, creative teams and new casts of actors. It is also impossible to be bored in this career. You never do the same thing twice.
I have now designed over 100 productions, including recently the stage premiere of ‘The Wipers Times’ by Ian Hislop and Nick Newman, which went on to three sell-out tours and two runs in the West End. This was followed by another outing with the same team ‘Trial By Laughter’ which also opened at the Watermill and completed two UK No.1 tours.
Other work includes ‘Seagull’ (Arcola Theatre, with Geraldine James and Roger Lloyd-Pack, directed by Jo Blatchley, ‘Emma’ (with Doon MacKichan at Edinburgh, Watford Palace & Tricycle, Dir. Guy Retallack), 5 national tours of ‘Grumpy Old Women Live’ (Avalon - with Jenny Eclair, Linda Robson, Dillie Keane, Britt Ekland). Also 'The Lifeblood’ (Wiltons, Riverside Studios), ‘Cider With Rosie’, ‘Dick Turpin’, ‘Merchant of Venice’ (Bury St Edmunds Theatre Royal/ national tours, Dir. Abigail Anderson), ‘The Canterbury Tales' (Guildford Shakespeare Company), 'Rent' (Bridewell), 'The Trials of Oscar Wilde' (European Arts : Trafalgar Studios), and two aerial productions with Actors of Dionysus: 'Medea' (Rose, Kingston) and 'Helen' (a new physical take on the life of an aging Helen of Troy beyond the Trojan War). Recently I designed ‘A Passage To India’ adapted from Forster’s novel by Simon Dormandy, directed by Sebastian Armesto for Simple8 (Northampton Theatre Royal, tour and Park Theatre, London).
Alongside my professional work, I regularly design final graduating performances for Lamda and Guildhall Drama Schools, including productions of 'Journey's End', 'Pentecost', 'Nicholas Nickleby', ‘Rent’, as well as versions of many of Shakespeare’s plays. I find it liberating to be able to work with the incredible facilities of these schools. I can achieve so much creatively in this environment and also find the process fascinating.
My design approach is heavily influenced by my Motley training and text-based background. This means that the script remains paramount, and the relationship with the Director is central to my process. It was a very deliberate choice for me not to become a fine artist, but a practitioner. In theatre we do not work alone, but collaboratively, as a team. I love the variation of this job, constantly working with new directors, creative teams and new casts of actors. It is also impossible to be bored in this career. You never do the same thing twice.
I have now designed over 100 productions, including recently the stage premiere of ‘The Wipers Times’ by Ian Hislop and Nick Newman, which went on to three sell-out tours and two runs in the West End. This was followed by another outing with the same team ‘Trial By Laughter’ which also opened at the Watermill and completed two UK No.1 tours.
Other work includes ‘Seagull’ (Arcola Theatre, with Geraldine James and Roger Lloyd-Pack, directed by Jo Blatchley, ‘Emma’ (with Doon MacKichan at Edinburgh, Watford Palace & Tricycle, Dir. Guy Retallack), 5 national tours of ‘Grumpy Old Women Live’ (Avalon - with Jenny Eclair, Linda Robson, Dillie Keane, Britt Ekland). Also 'The Lifeblood’ (Wiltons, Riverside Studios), ‘Cider With Rosie’, ‘Dick Turpin’, ‘Merchant of Venice’ (Bury St Edmunds Theatre Royal/ national tours, Dir. Abigail Anderson), ‘The Canterbury Tales' (Guildford Shakespeare Company), 'Rent' (Bridewell), 'The Trials of Oscar Wilde' (European Arts : Trafalgar Studios), and two aerial productions with Actors of Dionysus: 'Medea' (Rose, Kingston) and 'Helen' (a new physical take on the life of an aging Helen of Troy beyond the Trojan War). Recently I designed ‘A Passage To India’ adapted from Forster’s novel by Simon Dormandy, directed by Sebastian Armesto for Simple8 (Northampton Theatre Royal, tour and Park Theatre, London).
Alongside my professional work, I regularly design final graduating performances for Lamda and Guildhall Drama Schools, including productions of 'Journey's End', 'Pentecost', 'Nicholas Nickleby', ‘Rent’, as well as versions of many of Shakespeare’s plays. I find it liberating to be able to work with the incredible facilities of these schools. I can achieve so much creatively in this environment and also find the process fascinating.