I’ve loved performing arts from a very early age and I spent much of my childhood at dance classes. I graduated from Exeter University in 2011 with a first class BA(Hons) degree in Drama. I then trained to be a secondary Drama and English (PGCE), before taking up my first teaching post in west Swindon. I spent four years teaching KS3, GCSE and Alevel Drama, including a couple of years as Head of Drama.
In 2015, I joined Swindon theatre company Gatecrash Theatre. I performed in ‘Jerusalem’ and ‘Breathing Corpses’, and enjoyed inviting my Drama classes to come and watch! I also directed ‘Constellations’, performed at the Swindon Arts Centre and the Alma Tavern, in Bristol.
I left formal education in 2016 to work at English Heritage, using active learning approaches to bring history to life for school groups of all ages visiting historic places. I keep my passion for performing arts education alive by working as a freelance workshop facilitator.
I love the buzz of being in a drama studio while creative collaborations are happening. I believe passionately in the arts and their ability to transform the lives of the people who take part, and society at large.
My inspirations:
My childhood dance teacher, Sarah-Jane Bullock, has always been a teaching hero of mine. My school drama teacher, Kayley Button, had great belief in me and is a champion for student-centered learning.
I love the work of the late Sir Ken Robinson whose ideas, about building an education system that gives a higher status to the arts and creativity, are needed now more than ever.
I’m really drawn to physical theatre styles and some of my big influences are Jasmin Vardimon, Frantic Assembly and DV8 Physical Theatre (Lloyd Newson)
