November has been so busy as on top of my medical role play, presenting work and editing together my new showreel, I was also accepted into Freedom Studios' Writers Studio Group! Every Saturday afternoon, I am lucky enough to be surrounded by local playwrights in Kala Sangam, all developing our own plays for a showcase in March. I am finalising Service with a Smile to perform in 2024! 

I've been wanting to update my showreel for a long time and have finally had the footage back from various projects to edit together my new acting showreel for November 2023. I believe this is my strongest showreel yet as it showcases my brand the most accurately and involved working with some very talented actors, writers and directors. 

Some exciting things to share from the past couple months!

1. I submitted a first draft of my deubt script, Service with a Smile, to 509 Arts' Wordsmithery competition and it was shortlisted! I not only have a full script to work on further but also some great feedback from the judges on how to improve it. 

2. My showreel scenes with Both Feet have been edited and I'm just waiting on some last minute ADR before I can share the scenes in full!

3. A short documentary filmed at the Industrial Museum with members of the Sangat Centre, Keighley, that I presented in September, is nearly finished in post production. 

4. This month is full of open mics, writing workshops and more Lost Mills and Ghost Mansions interviews!

It's been such a busy summer juggling multiple projects I've been unable to update this blog! Firstly, I had lots of medical role play throughout June and July taking me down to London for different exams and workshops:

I also received a Spare Bob grant from Bradford Producing Hub in June to develop my spoken word poetry into a solo show to submit to 509 Arts' Wordsmithery competition last week. It was a bigger job than anticipated, especially with my laptop breaking for 6 weeks, but I'm really proud of how it turned out! Here I am reading my first draft at a Both Feet stretch for feedback: 

I've also been working with 509 Arts on their legacy project funded by the National Lottery, Lost Mills and Ghost Mansions, interviewing those who worked in Bradford's textile mills and hosting events to celebrate the long-term impact they've had on our landscape. I'm so honoured to be in this team developing long-lasting content to educate future generations. 

In July, I also traveled down to Bodlondeb, Wales, to film some new showreel footage. We worked for a week on two different scenes, improvising them and developing unique backstories. It was such an incredible process and I can't wait to see the final edit in the next couple weeks!

Overall, it's been an exciting and busy few months! I'm looking forward to applying for more funding for my solo piece now I have a full script written, getting back into the medical role play as the new academic year has begun, plus a trip to Florida in October to have a well earned rest!

This weekend I have been busy editing new footage into my acting showreel and I'm really pleased with the final result. Honestly I was mostly just excited to play around with my new editing software which has been great fun! It has also given me chance to reflect on what I'd like including in my showreel when I join Both Feet in Wales in July for their showreel retreat, where we will be filming both improvised and scripted scenes. I feel my acting has come a long way in the past year and I can't wait for my showreel to portray this as well!

Here is an extract of a piece of original spoken word poetry I've written and filmed, based on my experiences as a working class actor. I performed the full piece in April 2022 for the Both Feet 5th birthday celebrations and received lots of helpful feedback on how to develop it from a simple poem into a performance piece. Now, to test the waters, Natalie Gavin filmed and directed this extract and I'm so pleased with how it turned out. Now my mission for 2023 is to develop the whole piece further and create a one woman show. Exciting times ahead!

2022 has been a great year for acting as projects have finally returned following the pandemic. I've had the chance to meet lots of amazing people on different projects, plus reconnect with friends I'd made on previous jobs. Here are some highlights of the year:

Returning to my favourite acting retreat, Both Feet in North Wales, to play with scripts and further my Meisner skills

Performing in Alan Dix's rehearsed reading of A Plague of Innocence as part of Kala Sangam's LGBTQ+ month

Seeing little old me on a poster in Leeds Trinity Shopping Centre for our interactive online SitCom, Gym BS!

Working on a fantastic short film in partnership with UK Coaching about sexism in sports

Joining two new role play companies and working all over the country (London, Middlesbrough, Sheffield, Leeds and Dewsbury to name a few!) on lots of different medical role play projects - plus booking lots more for 2023!

This year I aim to continue my firearms training with Bare Arms, have already booked two more actor stretches with Both Feet, plus want to continue my TV and film career. This week we are starting strong with 3 medical role plays, an exciting spoken word poetry I've finished writing and will be filming, plus acting class with Nat Gavin at Act4TV. 

I have been so lucky this summer to work on a couple of different projects, most noticeably a short film funded by UK Coaching about sexism in sports. I love working with local film companies on social justice projects and I can't wait to see the final edit this autumn. The entire cast and crew were incredible to work with and it will be great to see them again at the screening! For now, here are some behind the scene photos:

In July I visited Imperia Staffieri again down in London to update my acting headshots and I'm so pleased with how they turned out! I hope these showcase my playing range and I'm excited to add these to my business cards in the next month or so. I highly recommend Imperia for acting headshots as she makes the experience fun, efficient and always brings out the best in me!

I've been wanting to update my acting showreel for a few months now since I've worked on some amazing projects in 2022 so far. I've finally received most of the footage and edited together a new showreel. Over the next few months I also aim to update my presenting, rollerskating and firearms showreels. For now though, please enjoy my newly updated acting showreel: