I am a writer and director. My work has been presented at venues including Chichester Festival Theatre, Theatr Clwyd, Theatre Royal Bath, Marlowe Theatre, The Lowry, Belgrade, Polka, Mayflower, Lyric Hammersmith and immersive spaces including Kew Gardens, National Museums Scotland, Old Vic Tunnels, and the China Children's Book Expo (Beijing).

I've worked as a lecturer and visiting director at The National Centre for Circus Arts and Bath Spa University. I'm also the artistic director of LAStheatre, through which much of my work is produced.

The stories I tell often tackle big conversations for family audiences.  You can check out some of the projects that I have been involved in below.

CURRENT WORK

THE LIGHT PRINCESS

TOUR INC: ARC STOCKTON, STORYHOUSE CHESTER, HARROW ARTS CENTRE & GOSFORTH CIVIC
Role: Writer & Director

The Light Princess floats. She always has. The Queen worries about keeping her little girl's feet on the ground but all the Princess wants is to fly free!

A musical for anyone aged 4+ exploring individuality, friendship, creativity, and the social model of disability.

AD | BSL | CREATIVE CAPS

THE LITTLEST YAK

TOUR INC: MARLOWE THEATRE, CHICHESTER FESTIVAL THEATRE, LYRIC HAMMERSMITH  & POLKA
Role: Writer & Director

A musical adaptation of the award winning children's book. A gorgeous story celebrating YOU being perfect…just the way you are! For critters aged 3+. 

Nominated for four Off West End Awards - Best Performance, Writing, Music and Design!

AD | BSL | CAPS

CASPIAN'S STORM

TOUR INC: BAISINGSTOKE FESTIVAL, EASTLEIGH UNWRAPPED, WONDER IN THE STREETS
Role: Writer & Performer

Happy in his rockpool, Caspian loves cleaning and collecting stories from passing squid and curious sea snails. But when humans come and build a town near his home, everything changes!

A tale for landlubbers aged 4+ about our relationship with nature and never being too small to make a difference.

SELECTED PREVIOUS

MASTERCLASS

THEATRE ROYAL HAYMARKET
Role: Programmer

From 2022 to 2025, I was the Programmer of Masterclass. An organisation, in the heart of the West End, offering free workshops, internships, tickets and development opportunities to theatre makers under 30.

THE TRIALS, HENRY V  ETC.

DONMAR WAREHOUSE
Role: Director & Facilitator

Since 2021, I have collaborated with the Donmar Warehouse on several projects from schools workshops, to Take The Stage and on their Donmar Local production The Trials. 

CPD TRAINING

OLD VIC
Role: Director & Facilitator

In collaboration with designer, Cherry Truluck, I developed and delivered CPD training for secondary teachers exploring the creative relationship between directors and designers.

CONJURER OF CWRTYCADNO

TOUR INC: TALIESIN ARTS CENTRE, PONTIO ARTS, THE WELFARE YSTRADGYNLAIS, ABERYSTWYTH ARTS CENTRE, AWEN
Role: Writer

A young woman researching her family discovers a mysterious book of incantations and a hidden ancestry of (real) Welsh Wizards! A celebration of Welsh folklore, magic and the changing of the seasons. 

AD | BSL

THE STORY DISPENSERS

CONEY & CITY OF LONDON
Role: Writer & Director

The Story Dispensers are travelling troubadours, curing hearts with the magic of stories. Through a series of curious tasks they divine which tale fits the moment - then prescribe it with joy. No sorrow too deep, no spirit too weary - every heart can be healed by the wonder of a well-told story.

CREATIVE COLLABORATIONS

ICON & ROYAL OPERA HOUSE
Role: Director & Facilitator

Over a six month period from Summer 2023 to Spring 2024, I collaborated with 3 primary schools on the Isle of Sheepey, developing training to upskill educators and inspire creative approaches to teaching and learning across the curriculum. 

THE RASCALLY DINER

TOUR INC: GDIF, BRIGHTON FESTIVAL, JUST SO, NORFOLK & NORWICH, POINT EASTLEIGH, CHICHESTER FESTIVAL THEATRE
Role: Writer & Director

Cook up a stink as part of Rufus Skumskins O’Parsleys’ kitchen crew or bring a pot to bang and ward off evil cakes in this fun-filled, messy performance about food. A silly, song-filled, riotous performance for humans aged 5+.

AD | BSL

THE CURIOUS CASE OF ABERLLIW

TOUR INC: UNITY FESTIVAL, MEMO ARTS CENTRE, THE BIG SPLASH (NEWPORT), SPAN ARTS, TREBOTH BOTANICAL GARDENS
Role: Writer

As a new recruit, you are thrown in the deep end with the troubling news that a small Welsh town has suffered a catastrophic loss of colour! A hybrid production featuring an app and live performers. Performed in Welsh, BSL and English. 

AD | BSL | CAPS

BEASTS & BEAUTIES

MISSION THEATRE, BATH
Role: Director

Grisly and gruesome, hilarious and hair-raisingly funny, this festive treat brings you Brothers Grimm and European fairy tales to make you laugh with delight and shiver with glee.

These tales are retold by Poet Laureate Carol Ann Duffy and adapted for stage by Tim Supple and Melly Still.

RED PILL | BLUE PILL

ARC STOCKTON
Role: Writer & Director

In response to quotes from the ARC's local community on the subject of climate change I crafted two rapid response monologues - Red Pill and Blue Pill.  These performances  were set in a virtual environment, where the audience could meet and discuss the issues raised.

BSL | CAPS

THE LION INSIDE

TOUR INCLUDING: THEATRE CLWYD, WATFORD PALACE, NEW WOLSEY, CORN EXCHANGE NEWBURY, NORTH WALL
Role: Writer & Director

A musical adaptation of Rachel Bright and Jim Field's award-winning children's book The Lion Inside. A tale of confidence, self-esteem, and a shy little mouse who sets out on a journey to find his roar and discovers that even the smallest creature can have the heart of a lion.

AD | BSL

NEVERTHERE

ONLINE
Role: Artistic Director

Neverthere was founded in response to COVID-19. We delivered digital artist residencies, an online outdoor arts festival (in collaboration with Surge Scotland), free workshops for artists to develop digital practice (in partnership with Bath Spa University) and conducted research into making digital theatre more accessible (funded by clwstwr).

ZOI

STUDIO 338, LONDON
Role: Writer & Director

ZOI puts storytelling at the heart of communicating the climate and ecological emergency. Material from interviews with real activists, scenarios from UN reports and game mechanics combine to create a dynamic space for audiences to discuss the future of our planet.

GIRL OF INK AND STARS

THE EGG, THEATRE ROYAL BATH
Role: Writer & Director

A sell-out production of the award-winning YA novel by Kiran Millwood Hardgrave. 

Isabella was raised on her father’s tales of the faraway lands he once mapped, Joya’s mythical past as a floating island and the warrior-girl Arinta. But when her best friend disappears, her hero tale begins.

A CHRISTMAS CAROL

FOLKESTONE QUARTERHOUSE
Role: Writer & Director

Hard-hearted Scrooge hates Christmas and all it stands for. Join him, as the bell tolls, for visitations by three (very silly) ghosts determined to show him the error of his ways.

A music adaptation of the classic tale suitable for brave souls aged 5+.

THE ASTRONOMERS STORY

BARNABY FESTIVAL
Role: Writer & Director

In the heart of Macclesfield a strange and remarkable tale unfolds. But all is not well.

Find out why the town is filled with stars, why the moon sits on the roof tops, and how you can help!

A bizarre, fast-paced, actor-muso show about fake news and lunar beavers.

A CHRISTMAS CAROL

ACROSS THE CITY OF BATH
Role: Writer & Director

Following a spectacular first act at Bath Abbey (featuring a cast of 25), spectres led the audience through the streets in this unique promenade production to save Scrooge. 

On their journey to past, present and future they also encountered curious characters from Dickens’ other Christmas classics.

THE LOST CARNIVAL

QUEENS PARK, CREWE & BURRS PARK, BURY
Role: Writer & Director

Over a century ago an incredible carnival, the most enchanting in all the world, suddenly stopped touring at the peak of its popularity. Mysteriously, they have resurfaced for one last spellbinding spectacle! 

An immersive family festival filled with musicians, jugglers and warring acrobats.

NEW ATLANTIS

THE CRYSTAL, LONDON
Role: Director

Set in a future where clean, accessible water is scarce, and climate change’s devastating effects have taken root. This immersive production gave the audience just 90 minutes to meet the representatives of Industry, Reform and Defence, and decide who should lead New Atlantis (humanity) through the troubling times ahead.

HWEOL

KEW GARDENS
Role: Director

In the court of the Holly King, four hooded figures shelter from the storm, encircled by fire. Towering above them, the Holly King, 20 feet tall, waits for his ancient adversary - the Oak King.

Seen by audience of over 100,000, Hweol was a celebration of British folklore and the power of nature. 

INSTITUTE OF IMPOSSIBILITY

COVENTRY MYSTERIES FESTIVAL
Role: Director

In the heart of Coventry lies a mysterious and intriguing building - The Institute of Impossibility.

An immersive adventure, for families, exploring the evolution of all things from crops to legends, and satellites to stories! All in a rambunctious romp to save creativity from destruction.

DEADINBURGH

SUMMERHALL
Role: Writer & Director

Deadinburgh places the audience at the centre of an epidemic. In doing so, it introduces them to the surveillance, epidemiology and expertise used in outbreak management. At the heart of this immersive production is the ethical and moral quandary: where do human rights begin and end in a crisis?

THE ENLIGHTENMENT CAFE

THE OLD VIC TUNNELS
Role: Director 

An immersive production for aesthetes, geeks, bon-viveurs and enquiring minds. Attend ward rounds at the Royal Bethlem Hospital, experiment with the inebriating alchemy of gin distillation, dabble in revivification and purchase poison that could help "elevate" your situation.

SELECTED CORPORATE

UCL FLOURISH, WELCOME FESTIVAL ETC.

LONDON
Role: Programmer & Director

I have a long association with UCL. I have programmed and produced their student Welcome Festival - taking place across 14 sites. Directed multi-camera live streamed events. And programmed and delivered Flourish - their flagship festival of over 200 digital events.

GOOGLE

LONDON
Role: Director

I created several theatrical events for Google's City Experts/City Guides.

Including immersive experiences at the Museum of London and a top secret location near MI5! The audience received the address and information on an edible invite. 

HENDRICKS GIN

LONDON
Role: Curator/Programmer

I programmed several festivals for Hendricks's Gin as part of their Carnival of Knowledge.

Each high end experience included a mix of interactive workshops, talks and theatrical experiences.

mrbarracollins [@] gmail.com

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