TroublemakerProblemsolver

TroublemakerProblemsolver

I was super encouraged by seeing a lovely piece of public art today that said ‘You are great problem solver’. Hurray for public art as ‘streetwisdom’ and much gratitude to artist, Julian Wood @artofkindness for that friendly reminder.  In fact, I had just been walking around feeling like a bit of a nuisance, but in […]

Family Arts Conference 2017

Family Arts Conference 2017

I had the recent good fortune to be able to attend the recent Family Arts Conference at St. George’s and Watershed, Bristol on 15 March 2017 (#FAcon17) as part of Theatre Bristol’s new artist agent initiative.  The sunny day provided a warm welcome for an impressive turnout of sector professionals from across the UK.   Adeptly […]

The Migration Habits of Stones with Alyson Hallett

Posted on Sep 21, 2016 in news
The Migration Habits of Stones with Alyson Hallett

I am currently enjoying serving as a ‘creative advisor’ to poet artist Alyson Hallett on her most recent iteration of the  Migrating Stones project.  This project is one in a series in which Alyson has placed stones, with the words “… and stones moved silently across the world”  carved into them, in carefully chosen sites […]

Upcoming BBC Radio 4 broadcasts

Posted on Jul 26, 2016 in news
Upcoming BBC Radio 4 broadcasts

I recently had the lovely opportunity to do some voiceover work for BBC Radio 4 recently as two very different, influential American women. In the first, How to Write a Poem, by Glyn Maxwell, I played the reclusive and prolific poet, Emily Dickinson.   In the second, outspoken labor activist, Rose Schneiderman, whose phrase ‘bread […]

Street Bubbles Micro-Action

Posted on May 14, 2016 in news
Street Bubbles Micro-Action

Today’s micro-action.  An unofficial mini-offering for the South Bristol Arts Trail! A fun collaboration today from me, Alice Ferguson , Jenny Sanderson and my 11 year old (who said it probably wouldn’t work….).  The invitation to passers by says “Blow some bubbles in the street! Where did they go? Who did they meet?” with a request to […]

Artist’s Workspace in Bristol

Posted on Sep 10, 2015 in news, resources for artists

Puppet Place, where I am based, currently has spaces available.  The building is situated on Bristol’s historic Harbourside within easy walking distance of the city centre and key cultural organisations. Puppet Place offers workspace for artists and creatives including puppeteers, prop makers, graphic designers, filmmakers and others. The building is a lively and lovely hub […]

Summer Round Up

Posted on Sep 10, 2015 in news

In August, I had the opportunity to attend the National Puppetry Festival in Storrs, Connecticut.  One highlight among many was Elephant, a toy theatre show from Clare Dolan, my old friend and colleague from Bread and Puppet Theater. See http://museumofeverydaylife.org/ for more about Clare’s lovely work. Since returning to Bristol, I participated in some research and development with […]

Open the Door at Bristol’s Make Sunday Special 2015

Posted on Jun 25, 2015 in news
Open the Door at Bristol’s Make Sunday Special 2015

Open the Door, a project I co-created for Playing Out, will be at some of the upcoming Make Sunday Special 2015 events in Bristol. Jenny Sanderson, Sarah Corbet, Ellie Freeman and I will be on hand, to bring wishes and visions for people’s own streets to life, through improvisation, cardboard, marker and chalk. Part performance-part play scape-part […]

Directing street theatre

Posted on May 7, 2015 in news, working processes
Directing street theatre

Mostly this month I will be directing two bold new street theatre projects by lovely people.  One is for Ramshacklicious and the other is a collaboration between Soap Soup and Lady Strong’s Bonfire. Making a street show is great fun but differs from directing indoor shows in a bunch of ways, the main one being the […]

Brenda Waite’s Flummery Room

Posted on Apr 23, 2015 in news, resources for artists
Brenda Waite’s Flummery Room

Great news! Brenda Waite is currently teaching in Bristol at the Dance Space at The Island on Nelson Street, Bristol.  I highly recommend her sessions. She is a really gifted performance maker and is one of my favourite teachers– even without the bunny ears (which she does not wear in class, I promise!). I continue […]

Chasing the Bluebird of Happiness with Living Pictures

Posted on Apr 23, 2015 in news
Chasing the Bluebird of Happiness with Living Pictures

Last week, I had the lovely opportunity of working with Living Pictures and Green Ginger on a few days research and development for a new adaptation of Maurice Maeterinck’s play, The Bluebird. The original was written in 1908 and produced under Constantin Stanislavski’s direction (I believe the photo is from this production).  It is a […]

Everyday Disruptions; Reverence and Play

Posted on Aug 15, 2014 in news
Everyday Disruptions;  Reverence and Play

I recently co-concieved and facilitated a day-long event called Reverence and Play alongside Dr. Constance Fleuriot.  It was part of an Arts and Humanities Research Council  funded project led by Professor Ann Light of Northumbria University, called Effectiveness in Action.  The study was was trying to understand the factors that motivate and sustain community action and […]