"It’s good to learn about people and places outside of the theatre in order to bring something of real value to it"

Hometown
I’m from Huddersfield originally and I now live in Leeds

What do you do?
Creative programmer, Creative Partnerships Bradford

What was your very first role in theatre?
Support worker at the Half Moon Children and Young People’s Theatre

What else have you done in theatre?
Community director at Interplay Theatre Company

Voluntary audio describer at West Yorkshire Playhouse

Have you got qualifications?
9 GCSEs, 3 A-levels, a degree in film, television, literature and theatre studies (University of York St John) and MA (a second, postgraduate degree) in theatre directing (Goldsmiths College, University of London)

Have you ever worked in another industry?
No, although throughout school and university I’ve had many part-time jobs from working in a burger van in Flamingoland to selling helium balloons in York

What did you want to be when you grew up?
Something different every week but I was always coming up with stories for my brother and cousins to perform. I’d get obsessed by what they would wear, how they would present the story, what props would we need, what music could we use and what would the audience (our grandparents) think.

What do you do all day?
Working with teachers and artists to invent different ways of teaching and learning. I’m usually in meetings with groups of people who are about to work together or who have worked together and are taking some time to think about the progress they have made so far.

I am responsible for making sure there is work happening in 23 schools across the Bradford district so I’m never in the same place for long and some days I can be in at least three places during a day.

What’s the best thing about your job?
Working with so many different people and their different ideas

And the worst?
Not being involved in an in depth way in any one process or project.

What’s your dream job in theatre?
Running a (well-funded) young people’s theatre company which is well used and valued by its community

Got any wise words for someone who wants to be where you are now?
Even if you don’t know where you want to get to or what you want to be try and establish what is important to you, what sort of things you enjoy, as well as what you definitely don’t enjoy or agree with. Think broadly about how you might be able to develop the skills and experiences you need – sometimes it’s good to learn about people and places outside of the theatre in order to bring something of real value to it.