Really chuffed to share my new headshots kindly taken by Emily Goldie. I had a fantastic session: plenty of time, a full dressing room area, complimentary snacks, control of the music, Emily's guidance, and great chats between shots!

I'm most impressed by how many hairstyles we covered in a 90 minute shoot. I enjoyed every minute and can't wait for the next time I need my photos taken with Emily!

July has been busy as alongside Bloomin' Buds R&D I was also in rehearsals for Robert Tovey's short play, Otters. Cast alongside powerhouse Katie Cannon as Chloe, the role of X was fun and challenging in equal measure. 

We had the pleasure of being directed by Mark Catley and assistant director, Ruby Mannion. Fight direction and weapons were provided by Jack Stockdale-Haley of Jack of All Blades.

It was my first time performing in Slung Low Shorts and I loved every minute. The team were so supportive, the calibre of other creatives sharing their work was ridiculously high, and the audiences were so engaged. We couldn't have asked for more!

I've only just managed to remove the fake blood from under my nails...

Photography: James A Mumby Photography

Wow what a blast!

In May, I took the plunge and booked onto Manuel Puro's 21 Day Self Tape Challenge. I'd only ever heard good things, but was worried about committing to a daily tape during a busy medical role play period. 

But honestly, I'm so glad I did. The scripts were varied, challenging and pushed me outside my comfort zone. I'm lucky to be someone who learns lines quickly yet this course explored new ways to learn longer sides to a high quality even under a time crunch. I found myself striving to find new, exciting and unpredictable ways to bring the character to life - rather than focusing on figuring out what the CD wanted. 

Here's a thumbnail from every tape from the challenge!

Another invaluable element of the course is the community completing tapes alongside you. Watching other interpretations, seeing their setups, taking onboard their feedback and getting to know them over the three weeks really gave me a new perspective to a CD's shortlisting process. Everyone brought so much authenticity, creativity and talent to their tapes and it inspired me to push myself further! 

Here are some of the lovely comments left by other participants on my tapes:

Overall, I'd recommend this course to any actor and I'm already eyeing up the other self tape feedback courses Manuel Puro has in collaboration with other CDs. 

Don't get me wrong, I'm glad to have my evenings back and not having to always be 'camera ready' but I do miss the opportunity to create a new character each day!

It's been a busy start to 2026 redrafting my funding application for Service with a Smile. Bid writing is relatively new to me and honestly, a daunting process, but the more I developed my application, the more clarity I gained on why I was doing all this. 

I truly believe in the potential of this piece of work. It's writing what I know, a world I grew up in, and about a community that's completely overlooked in society. I believe there's a need for cleaners to feel valued and their voices heard - and hope I can be part of the team to make that happen. 

This project has evolved over 5 years and I'm lucky to be joined by the most amazing team. A huge shout out to Andrew Wilson and Ella Tighe of Bold! Bradford for their bid writing support, along with my amazing proofreading Dad! I've got everything crossed it's a yes, but in this industry we can't sit around waiting as there are always other projects to jump into! 

I'm so excited to share that my own radio show, Creative Frequency, is now broadcasting every month on BCB Radio!

This passion project has been in the works for a couple of years. It stemmed from my own experience navigating the early stages of a creative career without family connections, a London base, or financial freedom to chase my goals. 

The more I connected with other artists (of every medium!) I recognised similar themes. Community was key. Unconventional routes were often the most successful. Every artform has their own specific barriers for working class artists. And everyone felt alone, left to figure it out for themselves. 

So Creative Frequency is my gift to my younger self - the radio show and community I wish I'd had to explain the basics and reassure me I'm on the right path. 

Every episode celebrates a different artist whose story inspires, educates and entertains. They pick the music, share the highs and the lows, and we build a community of likeminded artists. 

Tune in to your creative frequency by listening to new episodes every 4 weeks on Fridays at 6pm on BCB Radio, or catch up wherever you get your podcasts!

Back in late October, I'd have never expected to be onstage in a new piece of writing before the end of the year. 

I was sat in the green room of a role-play conference with a friend, waiting for our next scenario. She mentioned being asked to do Arts at the Arms but had other performance commitments that clashed, so asked if I'd be interested instead. Although I'd never worked with the team before, I knew many who had and highly rated the quality of Yorkshire creatives involved.

Intrigued, I agreed for my details to be passed on. Once the script was dropped in my inbox, I knew this was a no brainer. Done Up Like A Kipper is rich with connection, depth, humour, heartbreak, child-like curiosity, political statements, and pop culture references. Sean Webster took inspiration from his own childhood growing up during the miners' strikes and wrote with truth, resilience and endearing charm. I couldn't wait to bring this script to life!

Another huge win for this project was being directed by Rachael Halliwell. I've known Rachael for years and always admired her versatility, yet we'd never had the opportunity to work together until Kippers came along.

We had one online readthrough with Sean and one day rehearsal at Slung Low to explore this 15 minute short-play. And now we're ready to join other theatre makers, comedians, poets and musicians in Arts at the Arms 10th edition!

What a way to end the year!

Sunnybank Mills - 7pm Thurs 11th Dec
Tickets HERE

Leeds Playhouse - 7:30pm Fri 12th Dec
Tickets HERE

I was kindly invited by Andrew and Ella from Bold! Bradford to share a 30 minute extract of my solo show, Service with a Smile, at their latest scratch night in November. Taking place at The Underground, I shared the stage with beautiful poet and dance duo, Sammy and Devina, and music maestro, Musumba. 

This was the longest staged sharing of my piece yet and I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to explore transitions between scenes, puppetry within the storytelling, and the reality of juggling lines, cleaning and continuity onstage! 

Directing this version was Leanne Rowley - someone I hugely admire in the industry, who brings warmth, creativity and technical know-how in abundance. We shared a rehearsal room for one single day to prepare for Bold! and let's just say I slept well that night! I'm grateful Leanne stretched my performing abilities beyond what I thought possible, in such a short time frame, to build this world onstage. 

The audience play a huge part in Bold! nights as they are all asked to complete feedback forms based on questions we as artists have about our work. The response was outstanding. Supportive, constructive, connected, generous - the list goes on. Bradford is lucky to have so many champions of local art. 

Andrew and Ella have created a space encouraging bravery, vulnerability and community. Their professionalism and encouragement throughout the process knew no bounds - leading to a safe, supportive performing environment. I've never known a scratch night to also offer a reflection session after the event to define next steps for a project. It's been a special and privileged room to be in. 

It's always the people that make projects like this so memorable. A huge thank you to everyone who supported the show and watched my performance. That night has reignited my passion to resubmit my ACE R&D bid so hopefully Service with a Smile can be back with a bang in 2026. 

If you missed it, the wonderful Keyhan Modaressi filmed the entire performance, available below:

We Will Sing was the last project I thought I'd have the opportunity to work on this year. In April, Dr Claire Wellesley-Smith reached out as we'd worked on 509 Arts Lost Mills and Ghost Mansions together. She offered teaming up as the Live Programme Producers for Ann Hamilton's installation in the rooftop space of Salts Mill, commissioned by Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture and Arts Council England. 

How could I say no? 

So I've spent the past six months bringing community groups on specialist trips of the space, coordinating the live readers in the booth, and producing public events to celebrate the work. We had choirs performing, a panel discussion with the artist and curators, letters to the future written, poetry shared, prayers sung - and so much more. 

The team involved are expansive and have so generously supported this project. Working with an international textile artist such as Ann Hamilton is unlike any other experience - she is generous, trusting and full of love for the connections made in the space. 

I will miss my time spent in the rooftop space of Salts Mill. The beautiful discussions over coffee and cake in the Espresso Bar. Emily Eagen's whistles through the revolving horns as I arrive through the lift. But as Ann said so gently in the panel on Friday, "We Will Sing lives on inside you now."

We did it!

Life Class took over the Loading Bay theatre from 3-12 October with sold out shows, CUPPA T panel discussions and so many beautiful moments. 

What a gift to work on such a complex, rich and imaginative project as my producing debut. To work alongside theatrical greats, an excellent production team, supportive venue staff and incredible documenters - not to mention every performer, musician, Chorus member and panellist joining us onstage - has been above and beyond my expectations for 2025. I feel so lucky to have learnt so much and work in a world I love. I'll never forget this show. 

Now we're into project wrap up and it's finally sinking in all the crazy complexities of this production and the many decisions made to create live art. It's given me so much gratitute for every production I've simply performed in and those in the wings or up on the tech desk making it possible. 

Here's to more producing projects in 2026!