Juliet Fry Head of Projects
Juliet was a drama teacher for three years before joining the company. She has worked at The Play House since 1996. Most of her work for the company has been as a Language Alive! Teacher/Actor and as well as devising and touring she has directed several theatre programmes for the company. She is now Head of Projects, which includes being the Cluster Project Co-ordinator for the Creative Partnerships work. She has recently also been The Play House Healthy Living Centre Co-ordinator, a five year project supported by New Opportunities Fund. During her time with The Play House she has been to Nigeria as part of a three year theatre for development partnership with The Nigerian Popular Theatre Alliance, represented the company delivering teacher training in Mauritius and participated in national and international drama conferences.
Malcolm Jennings Teacher/Actor
Malcolm Trained at Kidderminster College and Dartington College of Arts and has worked consistently since with most of the regions small scale, community and TIE companies. Three shows for Pentabus including The Greeks which he subsequently toured independently with great success. For Big Brum he played Len in Heads or Tails, a significant piece that discussed the arts and education. He has stage managed for Women and Theatre, been drama teacher in St Pauls School, Balsall Heath and supported new deal apprentices at C&T. He has also toured nationally with Yorkshire Theatre Company and in Play Me False, Macbeth, The Great Smile Robbery and The Gloop Monster for the Custard Theatre Factory Company. He has toured in several programmes for Language Alive! as a freelancer and, after a three-year sojourn as a course leader in performing arts at North Warwickshire and Hinckley College, joined The Play House in February 2004.
Gavin Medza Administrator
Gavin joined The Play House in 2008 as the new Administrator. Before joining the company Gavin studied a variety of media related courses and has a degree in Media, Culture and Film Studies as well as a BTEC GNVQ in Media & Communications and a City & Guilds in Print & Radio Journalism. Whilst working as a freelance journalist for local newspapers and a Birmingham based music publication he started to develop his skills in finance and administration. Gavin is also a keen musician and has been writing, performing and recording music for over 15 years. He is currently fronting local indie rock band Dinky.
Simon Turner Teacher/Actor
Before joining The Play House in September 2010, Simon trained as an actor at the Birmingham Theatre School. Having completed the course, he then went on to work with several touring theatre companies, BBC Pebble Mill Television Centre and Buzz Radio FM. Wanting to work with children and young people using theatre as a teaching tool, Simon accepted the position of Company Assistant at The Play House in 1999. He learnt many aspects of T.I.E. ethos, and was introduced to facilitation. Simon then successfully auditioned for Loudmouth Educational Theatre Company, where he stayed for five years touring nationally, delivering predominantly Sexual Health and Training programmes for young people and professionals who work with young people. He then became a freelance actor/facilitator using theatre, puppetry, multi media and live music. He worked extensively with Midland-based T.I.E. companies Gazebo, Women and Theatre and The Play House, delivering sessions to different Key Stages and Adults. He was also part of the original Shakespeare Aloud! team, based in Stratford upon Avon playing Hamlet and Romeo.
During his time as a freelance Teacher/Actor with The Play House, Simon has worked on a number of programmes often as Tour Leader, including Stargazing, Out of It, Climb Aboard and Tapestry. When not working Simon enjoys playing guitar, surfing and spending time with his family.
Sarah-Jane Watkinson General Manager
Originally from Ilkeston in Derbyshire, Sarah-Jane has lived in Birmingham since 1985 when she studied Theatre Design at Birmingham Polytechnic. Following this, she worked as a designer and workshop leader on community and education projects, the start of her ongoing commitment to participatory arts.
As well as her part time role at The Play House, she is also Producer for Sandwell Arts Festival and Vice Chair of Black Country Touring. She has worked for a wide range of organisations including Sampad South Asian Arts – initially as Music Officer then Programme Manager, as Development Manager for the National Dance Teachers Association, General Manager for Women & Theatre and as a freelance consultant and project manager for Theatre Writing Partnership in Nottingham, Lichfield Festival and Praxis Arts & Health.
Other work includes Sound It Out Community Music, Moving Hands Theatre, Birmingham Rep and Coventry Belgrade Theatre, ranging from a three year participatory arts in health programme in Tipton to building giant ostriches at the Womad Festival.
