"Being self-employed is really hard work as you have to constantly look for new projects and opportunities"

Hometown
Originally I am from a small town called Beith in North Ayrshire, which is about 20 miles south west of Glasgow. I now live in Gateshead.

What do you do?
I am a self-employed drama facilitator. This involves leading workshops sessions for schools, youth theatres and other community groups. I also take on directing and co-ordinating responsibilities within my work.

What was your very first role in theatre?
I have been involved in theatre from a young age, attending youth theatre myself and was heavily involved in drama at school. My first paid work in theatre has been as a facilitator.

Have you got qualifications?
A drama degree from Northumbria University

What did you do before you worked in theatre?
While I was at university I supported myself with a part time job with footwear retailer Schuh

How did you start working in theatre?
During my final year at university I worked on a theatre-in-education project which gave me very valuable experience. I then volunteered with a local youth theatre and from there made contacts in the region and was offered work.

What did you want to be when you grew up?
A drama teacher! I also flirted with the idea of being a volcanologist! (Get Into Theatre thinks that’s a volcano expert)

What do you do all day?
I don’t really have a typical day! During my week I run sessions in Newcastle, Gateshead, Durham and Middlesbrough. I work with children from as young as four-weeks old right up to adults. So the idea of having a typical day is a novelty! I work on a variety of different projects, in many various venues so every day is different.

I lead sessions at North Tyneside Youth Theatre at Monster Productions and Livelines Youth Theatre at Live Theatre, and have been involved in delivering a series of drama-based workshops in local schools about “stranger danger”. I work with Bigfoot Theatre Company to run after school and Saturday morning drama sessions. I run the senior youth theatre at The Round. I do some sessions for Stagecoach. I run drama sessions for Seven Stories, the centre for children’s books. I run drama and music sessions for Gymboree with children from newborn to four-years and many other things as well.

What’s the best thing about your job?
The people. The participants and the professionals I work with are fascinating. No matter how proud I am of the product that a group creates it is the people who created it that of real value to me. I have the honour of working alongside professionals who I have a huge amount of respect for but who are also my friends.

And the worst?
Being self-employed is really hard work as you have to constantly look for new projects and opportunities. You don’t always know what’s going to happen from one day to the next.

What’s your dream job in theatre?
Ideally I would love to keep doing what I do now but for one organisation. I would love to be a full-time facilitator for a children’s theatre company, which would hopefully allow me to see lots of great shows, work with varied ages of children and young people and possibly a bit more job security.

Got any wise words for someone who wants to be where you are now?
Get involved in local organisations as much as possible. I volunteered to work for free for local theatre companies and that was a great road in to meeting industry professionals.