"I found an application letter in an old exercise book from when I was about 13 writing to the BBC to be a director"

Hometown
Originally Blackpool, now Gent, Belgium

What do you do?
Artist and artistic director, Reckless Sleepers

How long have you been at it?
18 years

What was your very first role in theatre
Performer with Station House Opera

What else have you done in theatre?
Part-time work painting scenery and making props

Have you got qualifications?
A theatre design degree

What did you want to be when you grew up?
I found a job application letter in an old school exercise book from when I was about 13 writing to the BBC to be a director

What do you do all day?
I am currently working on a new project called Met Mijn Hoofd In (With My Head In), which is a collaborative project with a Belgian company called Bonbon. The piece is a theatre project, and will also involve some film work and a book publication.

I am also trying to find the money to produce the work, and for other projects with my company Reckless Sleepers.

I spend quite a lot of my time doing admin, although our general manager and our international producer do a lot of the office-based work.

What’s the best thing about your job?
Getting people to see the work and then meeting them afterwards to talk about it

And the worst?
Dealing with bureaucrats

What’s your dream job in theatre?
What I am doing for 50 percent of the time now, ie making and showing work

Got any wise words for someone who wants to be where you are now?
Things are very different now from when I started, but first I went to art school, which gave me a great basis to work from.

While at art school, I went to see plenty of art and wrote to the artists. This is how I was able to organise a placement with a company and freelance artists, with whom I worked on a couple of projects.

After leaving formal education, I joined a studio group and presented exhibitions and performances.

I also made sure I went to see things, and if I liked something I would talk to the people afterwards or write to them with questions. That is how I started working with Station House Opera.