July 2025

Honouring the Past/ Shaping the Future : Bringing two decades of experience to help future-proof the Cambridge Shakespeare Festival without losing what makes it unique.

After nearly 20 years of involvement with the Cambridge Shakespeare Festival - first as an actor, and for the past decade as an associate director - I’m proud to be taking on the extra role of Creative Development Consultant.

This new chapter is about more than just creative input. I’m working closely with the festival team to take a deep dive into its operating models, exploring how we can evolve and future-proof the structure while staying true to the festival's core values and what makes it so special. Together, we’re reshaping aspects of the model to ensure the festival continues to offer an unparalleled cultural experience - both for audiences and for the next generation of actors.

It’s a joy and a challenge to help guide the future of something that has meant so much to my past.

July 2025

Telling Stories that Matter : Two new films in July harness the power of narrative to raise awareness

This July, I had the privilege of writing and directing two powerful awareness-raising films with 2Pears Films, both rooted in my belief that story and narrative are among the most effective tools we have for creating meaningful change.

The first, Crossing the Line, addresses abuse in sport and is designed to be shown to young people around the world. It’s a bold and necessary conversation-starter, aiming to open up space for dialogue, reflection, and ultimately, prevention.

The second, Just a Coffee, was commissioned by Leicester City Council and highlights the city’s commitment to being a breastfeeding-friendly place. The film gently challenges assumptions and anxieties around breastfeeding in public, offering support, visibility, and encouragement to new parents.

Though different in focus, both films use narrative techniques to reach the heart of their audiences. Because sometimes, it’s not statistics that shift us—but stories.

May 2025

Onwards and upwards : Graduating from the University of Cambridge

In May 2025, I graduated from Selwyn College, University of Cambridge, with an MSt in Writing for Performance. Having trained at drama school in a highly practical environment, returning to academic study - especially after failing all my GCSEs at sixteen - was a tough but deeply rewarding challenge.

The course, taught by leading playwrights and practitioners, explored dramatic structure, character, dialogue, adaptation, and writing for stage, screen, and audio.  My personal focus and research was on narrative theory and the psychology of story - particularly how storytelling can influence mindset, support emotional regulation, and drive social change.

This marks a significant step in my continuing professional education, and I’m now developing ideas for a potential PhD to take this research further.

April 2025

Launching 2Pears Films: Storytelling for Change

In April 2025 I was delighted to launch of 2Pears Films, a creative partnership rooted in friendship, family, and a shared belief in the power of story to inspire change.

Co-founded by Narrative Alchemy and Skinny Boy Films, 2Pears brings together years of experience in applied theatre and cinematic storytelling. Our mission is simple: to create visually striking, emotionally resonant films that tackle real-world issues and spark meaningful conversations - particularly among young people and the professionals who support them.

We’re already deep in development on our first two commissions:
– A short film for a UK local authority focused on supporting new mothers with breastfeeding in public.
– A global safeguarding film for an international sports organisation, designed to strengthen awareness and protection across diverse sporting communities.

Our approach is collaborative, research-led, and rooted in the belief that story can be a powerful catalyst for social change. Find out more at 2pearsfilms.com.

March 2025

Tackling Sexism & Misogyny : Unacceptble performed at The Houses of Parliament

On Wednesday 26 March, my play Unacceptable was performed at the Houses of Parliament, by invitation from Helen Hayes MP, Chair of the Education Committee.

Written and directed by me as part of Narrative Alchemy’s applied theatre work, Unacceptable explores the realities of sexism, sexist behaviours, and misogyny among young people. It’s designed as a sensitive, age-appropriate introduction to these issues - creating space for reflection and dialogue without blame or shame.

The performance was attended by MPs, parliamentary staff, and representatives from organisations such as Tender. It was a proud moment to see my play brought to such a significant space, and to hear from leaders who recognise the urgent need for conversations like this.

Helen Hayes MP said:

“Thank you for staging a powerful performance of Unacceptable in Parliament. Sexism and misogyny infiltrate all corners of society and parents, teachers and young people themselves often struggle to tackle it. Unacceptable is a really effective use of the power of storytelling to educate young people on sexism and misogyny and begin conversations which can be transformative, and I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it to anyone seeking to address misogyny amongst young people.”

Since touring began, the play has reached over 30,000 students across the UK. Teachers consistently tell us that it opens up difficult conversations in a way that feels safe, engaging, and non-judgemental. Following this Parliamentary performance, Unacceptable will continue its UK tour—and I’m currently developing a companion film project to further expand its reach.

March 2025

Using Story to Build Empathy : Narrative 4 at NBCUniversal

On 6th March I had the opportunity to lead a Narrative 4 Story Exchange session for NBCUniversal’s Talent Lab Pro Bono cohort in London.  It was a powerful reminder of the role storytelling plays in fostering empathy, deep listening, and human connection.

NBCUniversal’s Talent Lab is a dynamic professional development initiative designed to shape the company’s culture by nurturing its employees at every stage of their careers.  As part of its Pro Bono program, Talent Lab enables employees to use their skills to support nonprofit organisations, strengthening their leadership abilities while giving back to the wider community.

The Narrative 4 Story Exchange aligns perfectly with this mission. Participants paired up, shared a personal story, and then retold their partner’s story in the first person, as if it were their own.  It’s a deceptively simple process, but the results are profound - it encourages vulnerability, cultivates deep listening, and shifts perspectives.

Throughout the session, I witnessed professionals from different backgrounds engage in storytelling with an openness that was inspiring.  In an industry that thrives on creativity, understanding human experiences on a deeper level is invaluable.

A huge thank you to NBCUniversal’s Talent Lab for prioritising this work and for inviting Narrative 4 to be part of it. 

February 2025

Reducing Parental Conflict (RPC) : A Celebration of training

On February the 25th, I had the privilege of taking a team up to facilitate a session in Nottingham for the East Midlands Reducing Parental Conflict (RPC) Working Group, using story-exchange and narrative sharing to celebrate the incredible work being done to raise awareness around RPC.

Over the past 18 months, I've worked as part of the project with professionals across the region, using drama and performance to highlight the impact of parental conflict on young people. Through storytelling and lived experience, we’ve explored how conflict affects children and how professionals can support families more effectively.

This event was a chance to celebrate and reflect on that journey - sharing success stories and discussing how the DWP funded training has shaped professionals’ practice.

A huge thank you to everyone who took part - your dedication to this work is inspiring.

February 2025

Reducing Parental Conflict (RPC) : Performance Workshop for Durham County Council’s Stronger Families Conference

On Thursday, 13th February, I delivered a performance-based workshop for Durham County Council, with around 150 participants in attendance.  Blending performance, interactive discussion, and reflective group work, the session explored the profound impact of parental conflict on young people’s development.  In addition to highlighting how conflict manifests and its psychological effects, I also examined how RPC influences the stress response and its impact on brain development.  Through performance and live demonstration, we unpacked the ways prolonged exposure to conflict can shape emotional regulation and cognitive growth.  It was a powerful and thought-provoking session, sparking meaningful conversations about the role of narrative in shaping understanding and change.

'The amount of comments I've had about the workshop has been overwhelming.  We hope to work with you again in the future and will certainly be recommending you!' - Fiona Smith, Early Help Development Operations Manager

 February 2025

Narrative 4 UK Pilot: 70+ School Staff and Students Trained!

As part of the Narrative 4 Story Exchange Project, which I’m piloting in the UK, we’ve now trained over 70 school staff and students in this transformative approach to storytelling.

N4 Story Exchanges are a powerful tool for building empathy, connection, and understanding among young people—helping them feel safe, secure, seen, and heard in their school communities. It’s incredible to see the impact already, and we’re just getting started!

Stay tuned for more updates as this project continues to grow.

'It was an inspiring session!' - Alison Harvey, Head Teacher, Bridgewater Primary School.

 February 2025

Meanwhile in Canada: MT Space (Kitchener) to Present Virtual Production of Chelsea’s Story

I’m delighted that MT Space, in collaboration with the Sexual Assault Support Centre of Waterloo Region (SASC), is bringing my play Chelsea’s Story to Canadian audiences once again.

The virtual performance and talkback series will coincide with Human Trafficking Awareness Day in Canada on February 22, shining a spotlight on the urgent issue of child sexual exploitation.

Honoured to see my play continue to be used as a catalyst for education, awareness, and vital conversations.

https://mtspace.ca/productions/chelseas-story/