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“Find a job you love and you’ll never work a day in your life” (Confucius)
This is a saying that was drummed into me at school and has subsequently driven me throughout my career. It’s such a simple idea that holds so much truth.
Everyone has a dream job, whether it be a data analyst, an actor on stage or an adventure-training instructor. As educators I believe it is our responsibility to discover every pupils talent, nourish that talent and aid students on their path to never having to work a day in their life.
I am happy to say that I have, as yet, never had to work a day in my life.
Since graduating from the prestigious Liverpool Institute in Performing Arts with a 1st class degree in Community Drama, I have been ‘working’ both nationally and internationally as a theatre director, educator and producer. Working with some of the finest theatre companies in the business, (ATG & The National Theatre). I have directed everything from large-scale musical theatre, touring productions of Shakespeare to well-known pantomimes.
As well as teaching at King’s I am also currently the Associate Director of Black Box Theatre, where I regularly direct both large-scale and small-scale theatre presentations.
Drama is about more than just learning how to act. As Shakespeare wisely wrote, “All the worlds a stage, and all the men and women merely players”. We all know how to act. Drama is so much more than acting. It is the key to understanding the world we live in. It has the power to socially develop young people, helping to build their self-esteem, aspirations and confidence, through a holistic creative exploration of what makes us unique.