"I just woke up one day and decided I wanted to go back to the creative industries"

Where are you from?
Originally Leicester, now live in London

Current job title and employer
Artistic director (self-employed)

How long have you been at it?
Four years self-employed now

What was your very first role in theatre
Actor

What have you done in theatre?
Creative director, Duke of Edinburgh 50th Awards Celebration
Festival director, Festival of Youth Arts
Director, Y Touring Youth Theatre Company
Festival director, London Youth Arts Network

Have you got qualifications?
A degree in community performance arts and community studies, University of Northumbria
London Open College Network Level 3–youth counsellor certificate
BTEC national diploma in performance arts

Did you work in another industry before the theatre?
I was a radio and television presenter (Bid-Up TV, Ideal World Home Shopping TV, Break FM, FLR), a youth arts consultant and a play/youth strategic manager

How did you make the move to theatre?
I applied for a job and got it. I just woke up one day and decided I wanted to go back to the creative industries

What did you want to be when you grew up?
A talk show host

What do you do all day?
Too much to describe. I’m a youth and community manager/ consultant (specialising in youth arts and social inclusion), a director (creative and theatre), a presenter, a radio producer, a youth counsellor, a first-aider and an organisation and strategic planner and fundraiser.

What’s the best thing about your job?
Everything–the fact I get to meet interesting groups

And the worst?
Adults using the sector to fulfil some lost childhood ambitions

Got any wise words for someone who wants to be where you are now?
Do not take no for an answer. If you believe in something, don’t worry about how you are going to get there, just move in the first direction that makes sense and keep on going. Everything else will work itself out!