"Don’t just act - create, then you'll never be out of work"

Hometown
I’m originally from South Wales and now live in Brighton

What do you do?
Self employed co-director Red Earth, an environmental arts company

How long have you been at it?
Eighteen years

What was your very first role in theatre?
King Arthur (dead) aged five. As an adult, Mike in Stephen Berkoff’s East.

What else have you done in theatre?
Actor, co-director, producer and writer with Bright Red Theatre company, O Theatre company and Glasshouse

Also freelance mentor and occasional outdoor performance consultant.

Have you got qualifications?
An art history degree

What did you want to be when you grew up?
Desert dweller–Lawrence of Arabia

What do you do all day?
Application forms, ideas and project concepts written and drawn. Lots of planning, logistics, research and site-visits, sometimes abroad. Flurry of practical work (construction and rigging) prior to a gig.

Projects mixed between our own initiated projects and commissions from festivals and producers.

Normal day: school run, work (sorting kit, ideas, admin), school run, kids’ tea, kids to bed and around 10pm, back to work for me. I’m often found working at the computer or on drawings at 1am.

What’s the best thing about your job?
Being outside, on-site–being there in the gig doing it. All the hours, days, weeks are worth it for those 40 minutes.

And the worst?
Sitting in front of the computer trying to get work/money

What’s your dream job in theatre?
Being both designer and director/visualiser. Or just acting. In my current work I don’t act, but still crave it.

Got any wise words for someone who wants to be where you are now?
* Believe in your work
* Be honest–don’t let anything blind you to the quality and/or failings in your work
* Persevere–apart from the occasional glory don’t be fooled, it’s graft
* Remember it’s never as easy or as good as it looks
* Regarding acting: don’t just act–create, then you’re never out of work