Read my news and updates

Hello Reader,

Welcome to my Ninth E-Newsletter of the year.

September has been about reclaiming and rebuilding. After the unfortunate theft of my laptop at the end of the summer, I’ve had to start from scratch, gathering and recreating my work. It's been a bit challenging so please bare with me! As I've mentioned before, this email, is my way of keeping in touch, without you having to scroll through the Metaverse.

I want to share highlights, share my artistic journey, and make space to acknowledge and applaud those I encounter along the way. I invite you to grab a biscuit or two, make yourself a cuppa and take a look. You might discover overlapping opportunities, learn something new or, depending on age and wisdom, find my news nostalgic. Either way, it would be delightful to share, support, and stay connected.

Snapshot

August started with a wonderful three-week vanning adventure in France, soaking up the warm sun, swimming by the coast, and exploring charming little villages. It was blissfully simple, filled with bread, cheese, and plenty of time to unwind.

Once the children went back to school this September, reality hit hard when I had to replace my stolen laptop and think about work again. After a few weeks of searching and getting organised, I finally feel back on track and have been collating information for projects that were set to go in September.

I don’t have any words of wisdom to share this time. Losing my laptop has been a bit of a pain, and I’ve felt a little lost at times. So, I won’t sugarcoat it, I can only keep moving onwards and upwards.

September Sparks

🎙️Series 2 Begins: New Sounds, Fresh Perspectives🎙️

Exciting news—SEEN podcast is back with a brand new feel for Series 2! We've introduced a softer, more refined edit, and I’m thrilled to share our new jingle that sets the tone for what's to come.

Kicking off this series is my first guest, Jasmine Fassenfelt, a brilliant freelance designer and maker. Jasmine’s creativity knows no bounds—she’s worked in theatres, music festivals, and public installations as a designer, weaver, sculptor, prop builder, welder, and scenic painter. Alongside her design work, she also facilitates sculpture and willow weaving workshops. Her passion for people, place, and the natural world weaves through everything she creates, and I can’t wait for you to hear her inspiring journey.

Tune in to hear Jasmine’s story and how this series will continue to spotlight incredible artists from the South West. Subscribe and let’s get SEEN together!
 

🎙️You can find SEEN on Spotify or on my website

Milestones

It's a new academic year, and I’m back at Landmark Theatre, this time working on Speak Up, a National Theatre programme in partnership with secondary schools in North Devon.

I’m the Speak Up Rep for Pilton Community College, where I’m facilitating two amazing groups of Year 7 students. The school is using this initiative not only to bring more creative arts into their environment but also as a tool to help build relationships among students who have recently transitioned from primary to secondary school.

I’m really excited to support these groups as they get to know each other and explore how the arts can be a powerful way to express thoughts, ideas, and opinions. This process will give the students the time and space to reflect on what matters most to them and explore what they feel is really important to be proactive about.

Speak Up will culminate in June with a festival at The Landmark in Ilfracombe. Right now, after just one session, I have no idea what they’ll create—but that’s part of the adventure!

Take Away

I officially started dance training when I was about 15, but before that, I was always choreographing wherever I could find space. Sister Act was my favourite film, I loved dying my hair, and I grew up in the middle of nowhere in North Cornwall—no neighbours for seven miles in any direction.

Last academic year, when I worked with Landmark Theatre to bring Playhouse to rural primary schools, it felt like coming full circle. I was part of a brilliant opportunity to bring arts programs to children who didn’t have to wait until secondary school to experience them. It was quite emotional for me, because I didn’t have access to these kinds of programs when I was young, bopping around as a child. In fact, I didn’t even have access to dance in secondary school.

I used to travel an hour and a half each way, every two weeks, to attend Cornwall Youth Dance Company rehearsals at St Austell College. Auditioning for that was one of the scariest things I’ve ever done—I still remember feeling completely out of place, like a fish out of water.

Accessibility is one of my core values. Having access to the arts when you live rurally or along the coast is so important, and having the choice to explore the arts is vital too. Now that I’m based in Plymouth, perfectly positioned between the moors and the sea, I feel so much joy whenever I get the chance to fill the gaps where once there was nothing.

MOVEMENT DIRECTOR / KINESPHERIC PRACTITIONER / CHOREOGRAPHER / PERFORMER