Hometown
Born in Cornwall, I now live in Newcastle

What do you do?
Freelance theatre designer

What was your very first role in theatre?
Wardrobe assistant, Birmingham Rep Theatre

What else have you done in theatre?1993 Associate Designer for the Royal Theatre Northampton
I have designed numerous productions for Durham Theatre Company (now defunct), Interplay Theatre, Leeds, Solent Peoples Theatre, Eastern Angles Theatre Co, Ipswich and CTC Theatre in Darlington.

More recently I have designed two shows for Monster Productions, which specialises in theatre for children, a large scale theatrical/ musical piece for the Sage Gateshead, a unique storytelling chair for Seven Stories, the centre for children’s books, and a variety of productions for the University of Northumbria.

Have you got qualifications?
A degree in theatre design

What did you want to be when you grew up?
A theatre designer!

What do you do all day?
There is no typical day! A design job involves buying, budgeting and hiring, working closely with other people in the team and keeping in close contact with production staff and actors. Also designing, making a model box technical drawings, costume designs and prop ideas.

What’s the best thing about your job?
Sourcing the perfect item or fabric for the job which can take me to a wide variety of places ie timber yards, junk shops fabric mills. Also completing a design and being happy with it and then working towards making it real. I love seeing the whole process develop.

And the worst?
There is never enough time or money!

What’s your dream job in theatre?
To design a production for the Royal Shakespeare Company

Got any wise words for someone who wants to be where you are now?
Never give up! Try to learn as many different theatre-related skills as possible, compromise and be nice to people.