I'm James and I'm curious.
Curiosity is the starting point for all my work, no matter what it is I'm doing. I'm lucky to have worked as a creative all-rounder and over more than 25 years, I've:
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Performed on stages around the world, in restaurants, schools, factories, boardrooms, buses, the Carthage Cathedral and a number of fuel stations
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Worked as a mime-artist and a voice-artist
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Acted in award-winning films, international TV series and too many corporate videos and commercials to remember - my favourite is one performing with my 6 year old daughter
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Directed theatre, TV, gala dinners, international roadshows and a music video
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Written for stage, TV, corporate communications, and Sesame Street
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Created a tertiary curriculum and lectured at a university, taught drama in schools and run international performance workshops for professionals and theatre companies
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Brainstormed advertising campaigns and created award-winning international experiential events
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Co-founded a theatre company which ran for 10 years and features in school text books
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Worked as an MC and an extra
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Featured on the front covers of newspaper entertainment sections and frequently felt imposter syndrome
Two of my favourite reviews span 20 years. From one of my first devised plays, a Guardian UK recommendation, one critic wrote:
"This production convinces you the theatre can and will be filled to maximum capacity again".
Of my most recent devised production, another wrote:
"It will singe your heart and leave you aching for more.
You will feel like a child being exposed to the classics for the first time...
a work of such creative magnitude it will shift your values".
I am grateful for the many great teachers I've had, for the many brilliant artists I've worked with and learned from, and for the audiences and students that have given me their time. I feel most alive when making new work and when teaching. Both involve the unexpected, and that's good for curiosity.
I founded Fresco Formation, an actor training programme for children and adults, focussing on drama, musical theatre and film. I am teaching and learning everyday.
