Sam PARKER
JOINT ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
Sam is a Playwright and Theatre Practitioner based in the South West. A co-founding member of the Narwhal Ensemble, Sam has been a member of the Royal Court Young Writers Programme, and is currently working on his first seed commission for Theatre Royal Plymouth. He has worked as a script reader for the Finborough Theatre, currently reads for the Royal Shakespeare Company, Papatango and the Bruntwood Prize, and is also the Pathways Producer for Doorstep Arts in Torbay.
Jon NASH
JOINT ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
Jon is a freelance Playwright and Theatre director based in the South West. He has previously worked as the Literary Associate for Theatre Royal Plymouth and is an Associate Lecturer at the University of Plymouth.
He has worked as a script reader for Tobacco Factory Theatres, Theatre Royal Plymouth, Nick Darke Award, Cock Tavern Theatre and others. He was a Genesis New Writing Producer Fellow with Stockroom and Write West Trainee producer with Papatango.
Dylan HARVEY
ASSOCIATE ARTIST
Dylan is a director and playwright, based in Plymouth but originally from Surrey. He is currently studying for his degree in Directing at Plymouth Conservatoire. Dylan was on placement with Down Stage Write in 2022.
HATTIE COLLINS
ASSOCIATE ARTIST AND SCRIPT READER
Hattie is a Devon based playwright and theatre maker. In 2018, her play ‘Fissure’ was selected as a top pick of the From Devon With Love festival. From 2019 to 2021 she was part of the Eggbox writer’s group at Theatre Royal Plymouth. Currently, she is touring her new play 'Kindle'.
NATASHA LAY
SCRIPT READER
Natasha Anthea Lay is a writer whose work explores Otherness in all its forms and strives to push boundaries, both in its form and content. Her work has been featured as part of the official selection of New Zealand International Film Festival (2020), Tamasha's Hear Me Now Vol. 2 and Down Stage Write's Climate/Change project. Originally from Indonesia and Aotearoa New Zealand, Natasha now lives in Devon
ALEX ROBINS
ASSOCIATE ARTIST AND SCRIPT READER
Alex Robins is a playwright and performer based in the South West. His play 'Fireworks', which was initially written for a Down Stage Write short play night, received Arts Council Funding for development and touring across the UK. Last year, he received a distinction in MA Creative Writing from the University of Exeter. He also works as a workshop facilitator for Theatre Royal Plymouth, With Flying Colours and the Barbican Theatre.
Mich Sanderson
ASSOCIATE ARTIST AND SCRIPT READER
Mich Sanderson is a writer, theatre maker and director from Totnes. Their work often focuses on co-creation with young people, and they have developed such shows for organisations including Theatre Royal Plymouth and With Flying Colours . In 2021 they were the recipient, along with collaborator Ryan Wilce, of Wiltshire Creative’s SHIFT Development Fund, for Woke Songs, a verbatim folk musical exploring the lived experience of young queer people in the South West. After support from the National Theatre’s Generate programme, Woke Songs is now under development to tour in 2023/24. Mich was also one of English Touring Theatre’s Nationwide Voices 2021-22, culminating in a recent, full co-commission between ETT and Theatre Royal Plymouth, for their play exploring trans narratives and the way bodies are viewed.
StUART COTTRELL
SCRIPT READER
Stuart is based in Exeter and has been working in the South-West theatre scene since graduating from Exeter University in 2014. He co-founded PaddleBoat Theatre Company, working as a writer, facilitator and dramaturg on a wide range of shows and projects with and for children and young people. He now works as a researcher in television production.