Where do you work and what do you do?
I work at New Theatre Cardiff and my job title is Assistant Programme Manager working in the administration department. Since we transferred to TE from Cardiff City Council my role has been to support the Theatre Director, Stephan Stockton with all programming matters. I also assist the Theatre Administrator, Dan Phillips in preparing settlements for shows, setting up advances for shows when requested by in-coming producers and general office admin. And I take minutes in the monthly Heads of Department and Health and Safety meetings.

As I am registered blind, I do find the theatre to be a very supportive place to work. My colleagues always make me aware of any hazards in or around the office or building and indeed it was due to one of my former colleagues that I was sent on a training course with a mobility officer from Cardiff Council on the use of a long cane, something I have found invaluable in giving me confidence when walking around the city and getting in and out of work.

Describe yourself in 3 words!
Loyal, supportive, helpful

What do you get most out of your job?
I’m a detail person and I enjoy dealing with the mechanics of putting on a theatrical show and what is required in the background to make it all work. I find no day is the same and whatever comes in always gives my brain a good workout!

As a detail orientated person, I find dealing with the intricacies of both contractual arrangements and the settlement following the show fascinating and rewarding.

During my working life, I’ve always worked in supporting roles support and I am happiest when I’m helping others achieve their goals.

Favourite stage production and why?
Beautiful The Carol King Story, it does what it says on the tin! It was a truly beautiful production, with of course Carol King’s stunning music and so fantastically performed, directed and staged.

Favourite album?
That’s a tricky one, as someone with a 6,000 CD collection and just under 900 LPs, but if I had to have just one LP for the rest of my life it would be The Beatles: Revolver, my treasured original 60s mono copy. It’s a masterpiece.

Best ever gig?
Elton John, Wembley 1995. The tour was supposed to be a double header with Elton and Billy Joel, but sadly Billy had to pull out. However, Elton played many of the Billy Joel songs, moving from one piano to another and he did a pretty good Billy Joel impersonation too! The best moment was just as the sun was going down over the old Wembley Stadium and Elton sang Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me, just absolutely perfect.

Top 3 films of all time?
Mel Brooks’ Young Frankenstein
Monty Python’s Life of Brian
Withnail and I

Tell us about your music career!
When I’m not in the theatre the ‘other’ me is a musician, songwriter, singer, keyboard player, pianist, and guitarist. I have played in far too many seedy South Wales based covers bands to list here – how long have you got?!  I used to work for BBC Cymru Wales and as I was known as a musician at the Beeb, I was called upon on a number of occasions to form ad-hoc bands with other BBC staff members, playing gigs for BBC Music Live and also BBC Children in Need with my then band Partridge & The Pear Trees!

I write songs in my little home studio and produce all my own music on my multi-track recorder, playing all the instruments and laying down the vocals. In fact, I’ve just released my first 5 track EP on Spotify / Apple Music and as they say ‘all other good streaming services’ under the title of Pear Tree Music and the EP is called River Runs On.

It’s currently available to stream here on iTunes: https://music.apple.com/us/album/river-runs-on-ep/1743623275 And here on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/79ZMoRdjOHeJoQc1OMASes

What’s your go to TV binge boxset?
Currently I’m really enjoying binging on the full four season box-set of For All Mankind on Apple TV+, which looks at the space race from the perspective of what would have happened if Russia would have won the race to the moon.

Any holiday plans this year?
For the past few years, I have regularly travelled down to Brixham in Devon, which holds special memories for our family as we have been taking generations of our families to this picturesque fishing village for almost 50 years now.

Your Greatest sporting achievement?
I’m not really a sports person, although in my former career at BBC Wales I was surprisingly (to myself if no one else!) the lead sports publicity officer for BBC Wales, so did spend a lot of time interviewing and working with top sports people.

What’s your cooking masterpiece?
I love baking and my speciality is a recipe for a yoghurt cake which was passed on to me by my Mum. It’s basically a moist fruit cake, but replacing the margarine or butter with yoghurt.

Who is your hero and why?
I would have to say it was my truly inspirational English teacher from school, Mrs Pratt. She was the person who encouraged me in my writing, both in English and music and without her I would not have gone on to gain my English Literature degree at Cardiff University or had a 25-year career at the BBC and following that a fantastic 9 year – and hopefully continuing – career at New Theatre Cardiff.