Who are you?
I'm an independent theatre producer based in Manchester. I'm currently festival producer for the Queer Up North International Festival. I've been working for QUN on and off since 2007 and in this position since September last year. My job is programming the annual festival, developing new commissions and being a figurehead for the organisation.
What did you do before Queer Up North?
I did an MA in Producing at Central School of Speech and Drama, followed by a producing placement at BAC in London. This led to my first job with producing company Your Imagination, where i developed new work by Ridiculusmus, Cartoon de Salvo and Kazuko Hohki.
I went freelance in 2006 and since then have worked with a wide range of artists and organisations, including theimaginarybody, Analogue, Filter Theatre, PANDA, Schtanhaus, Chris Goode, Queer Up North and most recently Unlimited Theatre.
So what are you up to at the moment?
I'm gearing up for Queer Up North 2010. It's our 18th birthday this year. We're looking back at some of the most important pieces from our formative years with Susan & Darren and Road Movie, both classic pieces brought back with a contemporary twist. And we're looking forward to our future, with a number of new commissions.
There's a spirit of glamour and celebration with our Spiegeltent cabaret season featuring Meow Meow, Justin Bond and Taylor Mac and our special Birthday Bash created by Christopher Green. We also have a serious side with a programme of debates and lectures around topics we think are important - HIV and AIDS, the gender pay gap.
We're working across a range of venues in Manchester. We have shows at Library Theatre, Contact and greenroom. We've co-commissioned an exhibition with Gallery Oldham. Our Spiegeltent will be located in the heart of the gay village. We have events in hotels (Sachas Hotel and The Midland), working men's clubs, Northern Quarter bars and clubs. That's part of the fun of a festival - taking our audience to spaces in their city they might not otherwise end up in.
And who or what inspires you?
Artistically i'm inspired by theatre makers who are really trying to push new ground. For instance, Quarantine and Ontroerend Goed, both brilliant companies who are re-imagining the role of the audience and the boundaires between the real and the theatrical.
Professionally, i'm inspired by Emma Stenning, former Head of Producing at Manchester International Festival and current Exective Director of Bristol Old Vic. She is a brilliant producer - intelligent, sensitive and nurturing, while also ambitious and no-nonsense in her approach.
Who would be your dream festival performer?
There's so many to choose from. I'd love to get John Cameron Mitchell - the man who created cult-musical Hedwig and the Angry Inch - to create something original for us. Being really ambitious, I'd love to get a high-profile queer music star like Jakes Shears, Anthony Hegarty or Beth Ditto to do an intimate gig at Queer Up North - or even collaborate on a theatre production.
What is the best show / performance you have ever seen?
The first time I saw Quarantine's Susan & Darren really sticks out. I was bowled over by the honesty and bravery of the performance. Kneehigh's Brief Encounter is another favourite, because I love their charm and storytelling. I'll always remember the first time I saw Taylor Mac at the Edinburgh festival. I totally fell for his vulnerable and yet flamboyant stage persona, and I'm delighted he's coming back to Queer Up North this year.