Holly is a theatre maker, director and facilitator based in Thornaby, Teesside. She is interested in new work that speaks about the world we live in today and stimulates an audience’s imagination.
Having graduated with an MA with Distinction in Theatre and Performance from Northumbria University, Holly went on to be a part of the Third Angel Mentorship Scheme 2017, and completed residencies with the North East Artist Development Network and with Sticky Theatre. She was also given a place on the Barnsley Civic CARP scheme, and working with Samantha Neale, was a recipient of the Live Theatre Elevator Bursary 2020.
Holly has directed work for Live Elevator Festival, Alphabetti’s Write Back and Soup, the curtain raiser to Curious Monkey’s Beats at Northern Stage, Live Theatre’s 10 Mins To…, and worked with Rebecca Frecknall on Northern Stage’s Young Company (as an Associate) and Julie (as an Assistant). She was also Associate Director on Yolanda Mercy’s Quarter Life Crisis (Ovalhouse, Underbelly/Edinburgh Fringe). Holly has completed directing residencies with JMK, and the Young Vic/York Theatre Royal, and worked as JMK Assistant Director at Northern Stage with Mark Calvert.
Holly’s debut show Before (the line is lost) was developed in residency with ARC Stockton, scratched at Durham Gala Theatre, and previewed at Live Theatre before being toured at Northern Stage, Moor Theatre Delicatessen, ARC Stockton, Camden People’s Theatre, and the Barnsley Civic.
Her second show, Tensile Strength, was commissioned by ARC Stockton, had cash support from the Third Angel Mentorship Scheme, and was ACE funded both in its R&D phase and for its tour across 13 different UK venues. It was also performed at East Durham Trust’s ’19 conference funded through East Durham Creates.
Over seven weeks from November 2020 to March 2021 Holly is working on an Arts Council funded development project to create three new show ideas – one solo show, one family show, and one horror show. She is also working with mentors Daniel Bye and Maria Crocker as well as a brilliant group of creatives during this process to develop her artistic skills to enable her to be a better and more robust artist.
Holly will be holding an informal online sharing of the work she is developing for her latest project in March 2021 – watch this space for details!
