CV and Contact
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
Current Work
I am presently one of BAC’s resident artists where I am leading workshops and developing a piece of theatre for young people
I am script adviser and dramaturge for Rubix Collective at the Roundhouse Theatre
I am and have been course tutor for the Roundhouse Theatre’s Poetry Collective since 2009
I am developing a new episodic multi-media story with mac Birmingham entitled ’sTaTe’
I am lead artist on the RSC project ‘Sound & Fury’ which involves leading workshops aimed at engaging secondary school students with Shakespeare. Alongside the educational side of the project I developed and directed a performance piece also called ‘Sound & Fury’ at the Swan theatre assisted by Cicely Berry in December 2010
I am lead artist, writer and dramaturge for Decypher Collective ‘8sixteen32′ (since March 07)
I mentor and dramaturge for ‘Show Don’t Tell’ collective which I formed as part of my time as associate artist at the Albany in 2010.
Education and New Writing
I am lucky enough to lead workshops in creative writing, writing for performance as well as numerous masterclasses in spoken word process and collaborative storytelling all over the country from Bournemouth to Newcastle. To list them all here would be like the Andrex puppy running off with your loo roll. There’s lots.
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
2009
Lead artist, script development and dramaturge for The Egg Young Peoples Theatre MC writers project, Theatre Royal, Bath.
2008/09
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.
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, Wayang Kata Kuala Lumpur, 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. I also curate, programme and host my own night called ‘Bear’s House’ which has happened at the Albany in London and mac in the West Midlands.
Radio/TV.
I have featured 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.
I have been commissioned by BBC Radio 4 to write a new short play as part of their upcoming ‘Adventures in Verse’ season.
I was commissioned by Birmingham REP to write and perform the send off piece for their ‘Final Curtain’ event in January 2011
I was commissioned by the Tate Modern and Louis Vitton in May 2010 to write piece for the Chris Ofili project ‘Paradise by Night’
Myperformance piece ‘RETURN’ was commissioned by BAC and Lit Up Consortium and produced by The Albany and mac is currently finishing up a national tour.
I was 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 subsequently booked the show in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia in Jan 2009.
I received a 4Talent award in 2007 as apparently one of the most exciting young creatives in the country. Funny eh?
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.
