2022 round up

It is that time of year where no one knows what day it is anymore and we all come together to reflect on the past 365 days around the sun.

This has been both a really challenging and a really exciting year for me and I'm really proud to be able to share the following stand out moments with you all!

• Winning the 2022 Off West End Award for my play Red Breast!

This play truly means so much to me and I am beyond proud of the reception the audio drama version has had on people.

I've always felt like an imposter especially when it comes to writing so to win this award really helped to prove to myself that I can become a writer for stage, screen and audio and has spurred me on to pursue that more (but more about that a little later on!)

• Opening the Void as Executive Producer with Chronic Insanity Theatre

This is my first Exec Producer Role and I am so glad it was with a company I know, trust and love. I was thrilled to be able to secure ACE funding for the opening of the venue as well as the opening season of three new works supporting emerging freelancers create hybrid drama and immersive work in this exciting new space!

We've even been asked to contribute to the Nottingham Caves technical guide to promote using the caves around the city for cultural purposes including theatre which means that our work can inspire others to create new events in these beautiful spaces as well as increasing the cultural opportunities for those living and working in Nottingham.

• Producing four new works this year with teams of different and amazing creatives!

This includes the wonderful Symbiont by Patrick Swain (Hampstead Inspire) at the Vaults as well as Medusa Reloaded by Niki Morely a piece I have been working on with her for around a year so it's a sheer joy to see it on it's feet!

• Being able to support young producers back at the University of York through guest lecturing.

I was honoured to be asked to go back to my old University to tutor groups of third year students on producing and support them in creating their final year large scale productions. It was such a rewarding experience to be able to give back and share the knowledge I wish I'd known when I was just about to graduate too.

• Joining the team at Farnham Maltings as their Programming Producer

This role has given me a chance to experience working in an NPO full time as well as honing my skills in writing development business plans, logic modelling ideas, programming and firming up some of my connections across the industry. I've also made some wonderful friends which I cannot wait to keep working with in the new year!

I am so proud of what I've achieved this year professionally but also personally as I've settled into a new house and tried to focus on improving my mental health. BUT my year has by no means been perfect plain sailing. There are moments this past year that I am not proud of, there are countless rejections, let downs, and lost opportunities. I've lost people close to me, had some of the worst panic attacks of my life and doubted myself and my abilities through it all. I hope that if you're reading this (thank you for sticking with me) that this will inspire you to look back and be proud of what you've achieved this year as well as acknowledge and let go of the not so great stuff too.

So on to 2023, well I think this post is long enough but don't panic I'll be sharing my goals for next year very soon, so do check them out as I will need you to hold me to them.