Hello

My Story

Kate trained at Bretton Hall Drama School, completing a Foundation Degree in Acting. She then moved into academia, gaining a BA (Hons) in Sociology from the University of Liverpool, with a published dissertation. This academic grounding has since become a vital part of her work as an actor, director, and theatre practitioner, informing a strong understanding of people, systems, and storytelling.

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Following this, Kate completed a PGCE, specialising in FE Drama, Theatre Studies, Music, and Sociology. Teaching became a pivotal part of her creative development, allowing her to nurture performers, shape productions, and discover a growing passion for leadership and storytelling from the director’s chair. She continues to teach across stage schools, franchises, and independent schools and colleges, and has built strong professional connections across Manchester, Cheshire, North Wales (she is Welsh and Welsh-speaking*), and Shropshire. Through this work, Kate has cast and directed numerous children’s musicals, plays, and devised productions, and most recently assisted in casting for the UK tour of Matilda under the leadership of Ferne Collins.

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Driven by a desire to deepen her training, Kate moved to London to study at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, graduating with a First Class Master’s degree in Music Theatre. While continuing to work professionally as an actor across musical theatre, theatre, and television, her creative focus increasingly expanded beyond performance into directing and creative development.

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Alongside her performance career, Kate has developed extensive experience in production, directing, and casting, with over ten years’ experience directing pantomime. Her transition into directing became a defining moment just before the COVID-19 pandemic, when she took a leap of faith and committed fully to this path—a decision that has shaped her work ever since. She currently works as a freelance production and casting assistant for AB Productions, directing pantomimes nationwide. In 2023, her production of Jack and the Beanstalk at Rhyl Pavilion received an award from the UK Pantomime Association.

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Kate is particularly passionate about new musical theatre and collaborative development. She directed and choreographed Making a Murderer: The Musical, written by BAFTA-winning writer Phil Mealey (The Royle Family), which premiered at The Lowry, Salford, before transferring to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 2022, where she co-directed and choreographed alongside Christian Durham.

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In March this year, Kate will direct the Off-West End and Broadway musical Trompe L’Oeil at Contact Theatre, Manchester, marking an exciting next step in her continued directorial journey.

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In addition, Kate annually directs The Arden School of Theatre (Manchester) third-year showcase, working across musicals, plays, and devised theatre to support emerging performers as they prepare to enter the industry.