Workshops
Half my time now is spent leading workshop sessions focusing on writing for performance. I work with groups ranging from primary school, secondary, sixth form through to degree level as well as sessions with performers who are interested in developing character based performance pieces.Have a look at my CV for the kind of thing I do.
For rates and availability contact me on MrBear@homeofpolar.com
Education, New Writing and Theatre Work
June 09 to - July 09
Poet Coach for Camden School Slam Project 2009
March 09 to - June 09
Poet Coach for London School Slam project 2009
January 09
Lead artist for British Council Master classes in writing for Performance with local poets, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Ongoing now
Lead artist, script development and dramaturge for The Egg Young Peoples Theatre MC writers project, Theatre Royal, Bath.
Ongoing now
Resident artist and workshop leader for ‘Time to Talk’ project to (since March 07) improve pre-school literacy in borough of Sandwell. Multistory, West Midlands.
Ongoing now
Lead artist, script development and dramaturge for ‘8sixteen32′ (since March 07) by Decypher collective at Birmingham REP. First ‘Grime Theatre’ piece in existence.
December 08
Guest Lecturer at University of Northumbria, creative writing for performance.
September 08
Writing for performance master classes for visiting international artists at Birmingham REP
March 08
British Council Tour of Slovenia. College lectures, performances and creative writing sessions for teenage writers.
Dec 07 to - Jan 08
Writing mentor and dramaturge for young writing project ‘Liaison’ by New Zoo theatre company at Bernie Grant Arts Centre, London.
Oct 2007
Lead artist for Humbersound project, leading Music 4 You, Hull
Aug-Sept 2007
Poet in residence for St. Martins Arts centre, Bull Ring, B’ham
Spoken Word performance.
I have been lucky enough to perform feature spoken word/ poetry sets at different venues including: Glastonbury 05/07, Latitude 06/07, Lyric Theatre, Belfast Waterfront, Blacklight Poetry Fresno California, Edinburgh Festival, Young Vic, Koko, Ronnie Scotts, Jazz café, Contact Theatre, Guardian Rooms, Albany Theatre, Bookslam, British Library, Stratford East Theatre Royal, Ledbury festival and a few more.
Radio/TV.
I have had different pieces played numerous times on Radio 1 (Colin Murray, Rob Da Bank, Radio 3 (The Verb) and Radio 4 (Bespoken word) as well as slots on Radio 6 Music.
I was a featured artist on Spotlight unsigned for Musflash TV in 2007 too.
Commissions and Touring
My new performance piece (working title ‘Return’) has been commissioned by BAC as part of BURST festival in May 2009
I am currently being commissioned by Radio 3’s ‘The Verb’ to write a piece for broadcast in April 2009.
I was commissioned by B3 Media and The Tate Britain to write a piece for the 2008/09 Turner Prize as part of their Tate Remixed project which involved collaboration with film maker Nick Parish.
My first theatrical performance piece ‘If I cover my nose you can’t see me’ co-commissioned by Arts Council England and Birmingham REP closed the London Literature festival 2008 before embarking on a national tour. The British Council has booked a Malaysia and Singapore tour for Jan 2009.
I received a 4Talent award in 2007 as apparently one of the most exciting young creatives in the country.
I was one of the 5 artists commissioned by Apples & Snakes for the 2006/07 ‘Exposed’ Tour. The largest spoken word tour in the UK to date.
