Who Are We?

 

Doug Cowx - Director and Session Facilitator

Previously with Costain Civil Engineering, Merz and McLellan Consulting Engineers and Ready Mixed Concrete, finished as an Assistant Management Accountant, after 11 years in the Free Advice Sector where i specialised in Debt Adivice, I started this company, my main aim is to work on debt prevention through education, using live theatre to reinforce our work in schools and the community.

Pete Ross - Performer and Writer

Originally trained as a nurse, left to study Performance at Northumbria University in 1998, gaining First Class BA with Honours. Has toured with various theatre companies throughout the UK and Ireland, and has worked in France and Israel. Has toured with 3 productions for Monster Theatre Productions (Wallsend), in shows for 4-7 year olds, culminating in a two-hander story telling tour with Chris Bostock ('The Tree of Life'). Was production manager and musician for 'River Opera', part of the River Tyne Festival in 2005

Also works as a freelance Role Play actor with public and private organisations. Has been a musician for more years than he cares to remember playing in a duo with wife Lou, and in bands of up to seven members. Has played at festivals and venues throughout the country, playing bass, bass pedals and guitar, sometimes howling at the moon...

Joined Shontal in Oct 2007 and has taken part in reshaping the current project, 'One Family's Story' rewriting and adding to the scripts with Doug, and Kathryn Mace. Plays the part of John, father to Sarah.

Now working on new scripts in collaboration with Doug and Kathryn, for two new pieces of work to be debuted later in 2008.

Kathryn Mace - Performer and Writer

Native to the North East, Kathryn has worked as a Community Drama Worker and actor for the past 14 years.

She co-founded Open Clasp Theatre Company in 1998, and was Manager, Dramaturgist, Facilitator, Actor and Production Manager for the company until 2005 when she left to work freelance.

As well as touring with several productions, Kathryn has worked with a variety of groups to empower participants over a range of issues; i.e. single sex, children and young people, women, lesbians, those affected by / living in the 'looked after' system, addiction, mental health, disabilities, asylum seekers, and with street boys in Nairobi.

Kathryn joined Shontal in 2007, and is instrumental in writing, devising, performing and further developing the compnay.

Cheryl Marie Dixon - Performer

Clare Andrews - Performer

Rachel Glover - Performer

Originally from Leeds, Rachel moved to the North East to train at Northumbria University, studying Perfomance. Since graduating she has worked as a freelance performer, facilitator and stage manager throughout the region, and is now pleased as punch to be working with Shontal.