Experience

Paddington Development Trust

• United Kingdom
• Civic and Social Organizations
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Creative & Community Director at Grand Junction at St Mary Magdalene's

  • Jan 2017 - Present

• Programme Manager - Grand Junction at St Mary Magdalene's

  • Jan 2017 - Present

  Grand Junction is a new venue for the community, arts and culture based at St Mary Magdalene Church. Our mission is to create and present an eclectic, collaborative programme of music, arts and performance for young people, families and adults. A RESTORATION FOR THE COMMUNITY10 minutes’ walk from Paddington Station, beside the Grand Union Canal, St Mary Magdalene Church is one of the finest neo-Gothic churches in the country. Managed by Paddington Development Trust, the Grand Junction project sees the church opened up to all as a venue with a lively community and arts programme.Grade 1 Listed, it was built in the 1860s and 70s by the great Victorian architect G E Street, who orchestrated the very best artists and craftsmen of the day to produce a masterwork combining architecture, sculpture, stained glass, and arguably the most remarkable painted ceiling in an English parish church. From the mid-20th century the church fell into disrepair. It has now been lovingly restored and a beautiful new building has been added alongside, designed by Dow Jones Architects, which provides a café, learning studio and visitor facilities.We are open as a venue running courses for adults, after-school clubs for young people, family workshops, and a rapidly growing arts and music programme. The church is open regularly for visitors, allowing enjoyment of its astonishing architecture by a much wider audience. At the heart of Grand Junction is the idea of bringing together different communities, bridging some of the parallel worlds of 21st century London.



Improbable

• Participation Director

  • Apr 2015 - Dec 2016

  At Improbable I produced a number of community projects drawing on Improbable's approach to improvisation and theatre making to explore the creativity of the participants. The largest of these projects, Impro For Elders, a partnership with Church Street Library, saw a group of 60+ participants work over 8-weeks to create an improvised performance. This performance was then presented at The Cockpit Theatre in a double bill with Improbable's well-loved show Lifegame, with the Lifegame interview guests being members of the community company.



Improbable, Jumbled, Foster&Dechery

• Theatre Director

  • 2004 - Dec 2016

  I worked for many years as a theatre maker, creating a number of shows which toured the UK and abroad, including Oh My Green Soapbox in 2008-9, Epic in 2011 and The Pirate Project in 2012. As a performer I toured with Improbable's show Panic between 2007 - 2009. I worked for many years as a theatre maker, creating a number of shows which toured the UK and abroad, including Oh My Green Soapbox in 2008-9, Epic in 2011 and The Pirate Project in 2012. As a performer I toured with Improbable's show Panic between 2007 - 2009.



Freelance

• Theatre Facilitator

  • 2003 - Dec 2016

  I worked as a freelance facilitator of theatre projects with young people and communities. Organisations I worked for include The Unicorn, London Bubble, Creative Partnerships, Improbable, National Youth Theatre, and the Half Moon Theatre. I worked as a freelance facilitator of theatre projects with young people and communities. Organisations I worked for include The Unicorn, London Bubble, Creative Partnerships, Improbable, National Youth Theatre, and the Half Moon Theatre.



Half Moon Theatre

• Workshop Facilitator

  • 2004 - Nov 2016

  As a freelancer I worked for over 12 years with the Half Moon on many, many projects with young people, working as a tutor, director and writer. As a freelancer I worked for over 12 years with the Half Moon on many, many projects with young people, working as a tutor, director and writer.



MakeBelieve Arts

• United Kingdom
• Education Administration Programs
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Moving On Up Projects Coordinator

  • Feb 2013 - Aug 2014

• Transition Coordinator

  • Feb 2013 - Aug 2014

  I managed a Paul Hamlyn funded project supporting vulnerable Year 7s during their first year of secondary school, through a weekly intervention using drama, film-making and blogging. The project ran across three secondary schools in London, Essex and Kent.



Improbable

• United Kingdom
• Software Development
• 300 - 400 Employee

• Associate Director

  • 2006 - 2014