Curriculum Vitae
Education and Training:
Point Blank Music School, London – (2019) Certificate in Radio Production and Broadcasting
University of Brighton (2001-2004) 2:1 BA Theatre and Visual Art
Weston College, Weston-Super-Mare (2000) Art and Design Foundation studies Grade: Distinction
BAND Playwork level 3 (2006-2007)
Meynell Games, Brighton (2001- 2004) CACHE Level 2 Certificate in Playwork, NVQ/SVQ Level 2 in Playwork 2004 MiIllenium Award winner (2001) Take 5 For Play (2001)
Current Work
Boomtown Fair Festival (2009 - 2020) 11 years
· Producer of Opening Ceremony Stage show, 150 theatre and circus performers, one of Boomtown’s Biggest stages Lion’s Den Stage to an audience of 30,000 people. (3 years)
· Carnival Producer of the Sunday carnival parade 700 participants and large scale costumes, community groups, vehicles and bands. (8 years)
· Area Production Manager of Kidztown – Production, co-ordination of groups, made and rigged décor, managed volunteers, siting groups, structures and facilities and general administration for the kidztown area of Boomtown festival for 10 years.
· Outreach Projects Awarded Arts Council, Awards for All, Hampshire Council, Bristol City Council funding to produce six outreach projects with families in Bristol and Winchester and a carnival parade with 700 participants at Boomtown 2014-present.
Magic me (2019-present)
Freelance Artist working on intergenerational projects which bring children and older people together to work together on creative projects for festivals or theatre pieces.
Bingo Lingo (2017-2019)
Production Manager & Stage Mananger for Wild N Beets Outdoor touring shows Bingo Lingo and Buck A Brenda. Working with 2 disabled Artistic Directors to tour 2 shows which challenge the misperceptions of disability in a fun engaging and participatory environment, playing alternative games of Bingo and Buckaroo.
Smithfield 150 Museum of London (April-Aug 2018)
Project managed working with 5 primary schools and 3 artists and in partnership with Museum of London, Culture Mile and London Metropolitan Archives to produce a carnival parade, make giant puppets in schools and banners for the celebration of the 150 anniversary of Smithfield Market weekend festival in Aug 2018.
Punchdrunk (Aug-Nov 2017)
Stage management and performing for UK show Kabeiroi, an interactive 5 hour experience across 6 locations in London with 2 audience members at one time 12 times a day.
Bestival & Camp Bestival (2014-16)
Stage Manager and Assistant Producer for 3 carnival parades per day ( 3 days) and the carnival stage at Camp Bestival and Bestival in 2016. Programming, Producing, Managing volunteers, managing Bands / acts, issuing tickets, managing tech.
Décor and rigging at The Grand Palace 2014, 2015 and Managing Mandinga Arts costumes for the carnival parades.
Shambala Festival (2005- 2017)
Assistant Kids Area manager (2 years) Facilitating multiple interactive and creative workshops and décor managing large teams for over 10 years.
Mandinga Arts (Aug 14-Present)
Production Managing, Wardrobe management, Workshop Facilitation adults and University students, Artist Assistant maintenance of small scale and large puppet costumes, managing volunteers, transporting and managing schedules with performers, make up artists and large and small scale costumes. Great British Carnival, Olympic Park, Leicester Night of Festivals, and Bestival.
International Work
Artist Residency – Nordland Akademi, Neptune Art / Science Lab Melbu, Norway In Sept 2019 I visited Melbu on the Vestalaren island in Norway to be part of a week long Artist Residency with Artist Andrea Greenwood and Norland Akademi and Neptune Art/Science Lab. In response to the groups I met, I facilitated writing, audio and textiles workshops with refugee women from Iran, Afghanistan, Syria, Turkey and Ethiopia. After an initial meeting, connecting really well and having long conversations and hearing the challenges and frustrations they experienced in Norway. The visit was a research and development trip and the project will continue in 2020 as part of an evening outdoor festival.
Creative Kids International (CKI) 2008-2013Set up in 2008 by Mia Harris and Sian Lamprey as an outreach art-based project for vulnerable young people in Zambia and Kenya. In 2010 spent 3 months working in Zambia for CKI in partnership with Barefeet Theatre and UNICEF to put on a week-long children’s festival. The festival was based on the theme Climate Change and brought together over 2000 children who live in children’s centres or who have previously or currently live on the streets. CKI and Barefeet ran theatre workshops in 5 children’s centres building large-scale and small costumes using recycled materials. CKI organised a fashion show to showcase the costumes pre-carnival. Other events that CKI and Barefeet organised were, theatre performances, carnival, festival/awards ceremony and a Jazz evening. Fundraising for Creative Kids International: Awards: Big Boost Award (2007) – £5000; Innovation Award from University of Brighton (May 2004) – £1,500 to start up Creative Kids; UIA Charitable Foundation (March 2010) – £1000 for the Creative Kids International Project; Unltd Award (May 2008) of £5000.
Giant Puppet Project, Siem Reap, Cambodia (Feb-March 2012) Volunteer on a Giant puppet project. Sourced materials. Facilitated and led workshops with Cambodian artists and over 500 children from NGO’s including Schools, Children’s Centres and the Landmine museum. A team of 12 volunteers and the children made 8 Giant puppets which lit up at night-time and paraded through the streets of Siem Reap
Previous Work Touretteshero Design(March 2017-19) Designing, building a set for an event ‘Adventures in Biscuitland” at Tate Exchange at the Tate end of March. Planned and prepared and facilitated workshops at Touretteshero events at the Southbank and Battersea Arts Centre. Lyric Hammersmith and Action on Disability (July 2015-2018)
Designed and built a set for a project ‘Journey’s- No man is an Island’ which is a partnership project between Action on Disability and Lyric Hammersmith. A three phase project working with disabled and non disabled young people aged 14-21 years. The show will eventually go on tour this summer. Facilitated 1-5 day puppet projects & shows with youth groups.
WAC Arts (March 2018)
Designed and pre made bunting and four banner templates for community ages 0-70 yrs to add and sew for London half marathon and the Artichoke Processions
London School of Samba (March 2015-2019)
Designed and made costumes and facilitated costume making workshops for LSS 2015/16. Chief Steward and Wardrobe production for Notting Hill Carnival.
Bow Arts (June 13-2017)
Workshop facilitator – Training teachers, Workshops with Primary Schools in creative arts, textiles and willow making
Fanmail – The Gratitude Enquiry (May- Feb 2016-2017)
Facilitated fan making workshops with Theatre Maker Sue Mayo and visual artist Anna in Sydenham Gardens Croydon community centre, Westway Trust with 3 different women’s groups working towards an exhibition.
Beckmead Schools (Dec 14-2018)
Arts facilitator one day a week with 6 classes teaching art with students with emotional, behavioural and social difficulties aged 7- 14 years .
Phoenix Special School, Bow (Dec 15)
Designed and rigged a winter wonderland set for Phoenix School for 800 pupils to experience an immersive environment and stage.
South London Gallery (Dec 14- 16)
Freelance facilitation of workshops for children in the gallery space and playworker at Supersmashers afterschool club for looked after children & young people.
Oasis Adventure Playground, Stockwell (July 12- Dec 15)
Big Picture Heritage Lottery funded project co-ordinator for youth led arts project. Facilitator of creative workshops with Larkhall Primary School children with autism and learning support needs, to improve speech, language and confidence through creative arts and play. Co-ordinator of The Ruby Do fully accessible summer party event celebrating 40 years of the adventure playground for 700 children and adults. Inclusion Playworker.
Croydon Council (Freelance, Present)
Freelance Visual Artist, Giant Puppet Making, Dance and Music projects with young people with learning disabilities in Waddon Youth Centre.
London International Festival of Theatre (Feb- May 2011)
Worked as a Visual Artist on the Biggest Learning Opportunity on Earth (BIGLOP) project with 1 primary school and 3 secondary schools in London, collaborating with Theatre Maker Sue Mayo and Sound Artist Dan Scott. Worked with pupils to create performances, installations, and sound pieces within the schools. Biglop was funded by A New Direction’s Olympic–themed 2010/11 Enquiry Schools Programme, exploring the value of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games as a learning opportunity for young Londoners.
Meynell Games (May 09-Oct 09)
Playleader running after-school clubs and a Trainer on a project vehicle which travelled around East Sussex and Hampshire visiting after-school clubs and leading/delivering discussion with groups on concepts of playwork.
Playpods (2008-2012)
Freelance playworker for a pilot project at Fonthill Primary School and St Nicholas of Tolentine School, to positively promote the use of scrap for play in schools at playtime.
Bristol Playbus Project, 24 Bright Street, Barton Hill, Bristol (Oct 00-March 07)
Sessional Playleader work with vulnerable children and families in traveller sites and council estates, Sure Start, creche and festivals, promoting healthy eating and cooking, produced a healthy-eating cookbook with families and a gardening project. Creative, sport and play activities with 0-15 year olds in areas where there is little or no play provision, on double decker bus, plus outreach work.