"The best thing about my job? It's not really a job"

Hometown
Born in Essex, now live in Derbyshire

What do you do?
Artistic director Artizani ltd

What was your very first role in theatre?
Performing with Topple Twins children’s theatre

What else have you done in theatre?
I’ve worked on productions as varied as The Tempest (Contact), Animal Crackers (Royal Exchange), The Mikado (New Vic), Prometheus Bound (Portuguese expressionism), Barnum (national tour), “Ant & Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway”, ITV, The Autosports awards (big budget corporate), Tense, Nervous Headache (high wire), Revolution (original Arts Council commissioned street art, with new verse script), Break (street dance/acrobatics based) and The Dentist (improvised commedia dell Arte).

I’ve taught (at least) 10,000 people to juggle; walked a tightrope over the world’s largest ever pancake (as it was cooking) and won the York International Busker competition.

Over 16 years I have developed a unique course in physical theatre at the Arden School of Theatre. It is a strand of an acting degree which brings together a whole range of physical skills (including an aerial theatre option unique in actor training) and integrates it with actor training.

Have you got qualifications?
A drama degree

What did you want to be when you grew up?
Different

What do you do all day?
There isn’t such a thing as a typical day. It might be 10 hours driving and two shows, it might be teaching, I might be on the computer all day, I might be tinkering in the workshop, I might be doing all of them or none.

What’s the best thing about your job?
It’s not really a job. Creating new work.

And the worst?
Driving

What’s your dream job in theatre?
To be cast as Buster Keaton in remakes of all his films

Got any wise word for someone who wants to be where you are now?
Concentrate on the work you are doing now and make sure it’s as good as it can be. Collaborate as much as possible.