Sorry, haven’t up-dated this for a while

Panto went well in Cambridge. Strong company. Great reviews and terrific Box Office

2020 has been quiet Theatre-wise.

I’ve just opened a new exhibition at The Torch Theatre . Milford Haven. It’s called AT THE WATERS EDGE. It is 36 new original monoprints, etchings, drypoints and screenprints. I’m really pleased with it and looks great in the Joanna Fields Gallery. It’s at the theatre all of March. It will transfer to Theatre Brycheiniog this august/sept

The Courtyard Theatre in Hereford have asked me to make an exhibition for them in 2021. Very exciting

I’m just about to do my annual teaching for the design department for Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama. I always enjoy this. It lifts my spirit to see such talented emerging Artists. Can’t wait !!!!!!

I’ve started developing a new project with the glorious Mike Peters and THE ALARM   It’s called U P S T R E A M. I’m very excited about it and it will probably happen 2021. Watch this space

On 31st March we will be presenting a concert at the Grand Theatre Swansea to celebrate the life a work of the glorious Helen Griffin. The evening will be hosted my Griffos’ best friend Jo Brand. All the money we raise will be to set up a foundation in Helens name that will fund a young person to go to West Glamorgan Youth Theatre, and fund a young writer to write a new play for the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama. It’s going to be a great celebratory night……so please come

Finally……my next bit of news…..I’m going to set up a company called        theatre OUT LOUD. It will be a professional theatre company that that gives theatre writers in Mid Wales a chance to hear their new play work-shopped and read OUT LOUD for the first time. I’m developing this project with Theatr Brycheiniog………….it’s very exciting…..and I’ll talk more about it in the Autumn

It’s exciting that as I get older my creativity is becoming more diverse…..HURRAAAH

We start building my new STUDIO in the garden here at Ysgubor this Spring……SOOOOO Exciting

Sorry, not updated for a while

Not over busy with theatre, but very busy painting and printing. More to follow

Just completed my annual teaching at RWCMD working with final year design students creating their portfolios. I love doing this. Great students Fantastic course…the best

Have now completed casting for BLYTHE SPIRIT which I will be directing this summer in Aldeburgh. Really looking forward to it and I have a fantastic cast. A new organisation this year, but we are doing our best to further the vision of our patron Jill Freud. A visionary ! That’s all happening in July/August

In August I will be running workshops in West Wales for the Pint Size Play Season. A truely fantastic international organisation. A competition to find 10 new short plays that the company perform in pubs throughout Pembrokeshire. Inspirational. Google them and buy their scripts. They are fantastic material for workshops and performance

The National Theatre Wales are bringing back my production of Kath Chandlers PEGGYS’SONG performed by the magnificent Christian Patterson and touring this autumn to theatres throughout Wales. I’m so pleased because it’s a great show

I’m pleased to say that I have been invited back to direct the Pantomime at the Arts Theatre Cambridge. I had a fantastic time there last year. Its Cinders this year and I’m excited because Wayne Sleep and Matt Crosby will be returning to play Ugly Sisters…..what fun!. Lisa Godard also returning to give her Fairy God Mother…hurrah……and they have extended the run!!!

Many of you probably know that 2018 was a very tough year for me as I lost nine dear friends to early deaths , including Helen Griffin, Frank Vickery and David Johnson. Also my beloved friend and mentor Roy Bailey.

I am pleased to say that I have been successful in setting up archives for Helen and Franks work. Swansea University will be taking Helens Archive and The National Library of Wales in Aberystwyth will be taking Franks. I am really proud to have done this. Their work is important .

I’ve been really busy painting and printing in the last few months. I just adore it. Later this year I am going to be building a studio in my garden where I can create and print new work. I’m so excited. Come and visit and see the work please

I will be exhibiting at The Print Shed in September as part of h.Art. Herefordshire Open Studios.

I am also pleased to announce  that I will be mounting a solo exhibition at The Torch Theatre, Milford Haven next March. It will be all new monoprints titled AT THE WATERS EDGE. I’m so enjoying creating the work.

That’s all for now.

Just opened Aladdin at Cambridge Arts Theatre.

I had a terrific time and really enjoyed myself.

Lovely company and a great staff at the theatre. All possitive

I’m pleased to say that we have had fantastic reviews.

One more visit and then it’s Xmas…..Hurrah

On a sad note….i’ve just been to speak at Roy Baileys’ funeral in Sheffield. Really hard.

He was such an important man in my life. I’ll really miss him. At least I will always have his voice

It’s a terrible year for deaths. Let’s hope….that as Roy sang……

May the New Year bring you freedom..peacefully

A very busy Summer

It started with PEGGYS SONG by Kath Chandler for National Theatre Wales. I adored working on this with the wonderful Christian Patterson. A gem of a play by Kath and a beautiful performance by Christian. A great production team led by the magnificent Sarah Cole. I really hope there is a further life for this

It was then on to Southwold and Suffolk Summer Theatres and a production of Agatha Christies’ A DAUGHTERS’A DAUGHTER. A rather special play this. Not a whodunit!!!!!!!! Great piece to work on with a strong female cast. Loved it

For the third year running I have been invited back to Luxembourg and LEATS summer school. Great fun. These are a group of very special people dedicated to theatre and life long learning. Terrific

As a result of LEATS i was invited to run a three day Directing Workshop with the Hamburg Players in Germany. I had a ball and enjoyed this group and discovering this great city

Also ran a two day workshop for the PINT SIZE PLAY company in Pembrokeshire. What an inspiration this company are!!!!!! Professional theatre could learn a lot from them. Keep going Derek and team You lead the way!!!!!!

On to Cambridge Arts Theatre and new territory. ALADDIN with Wayne Sleep. Really looking forward to this new challenge. So far so good. Enjoying myself

ART

I’m pleased to say that I was a finalist in the DERWENT INTERNATIONAL DRAWING PRIZE 2018. Great exhibition and opening ceremony at The Mall Galleries London. Terrific fun. And I sold my drawing…….to a couple of Artists…….very humbling

Just had an exhibition of 30 of my flower paintings at Neville Hall Hospital in Abergavenny for 10 weeks. Looked really good and lots of enquiries

Exhibited at the PRINT SHED as part of hArt. I love this organisation. And sold a couple of monoprints of a journey along the River Severn

Spent two weeks painting in AIX en Provence……glorious. I loved every moment

Just done my second screen printing workshop with the glorious Adrienne Cradoc in Hereford. Fantastic. I loved every moment

Borderline Magazine printed a three page interview with me and featured my paintings

Sales are steady..which is good

All in all. Its been a positive year

 

I’m pleased to say that I will be directing the Pantomime ALADDIN at the Cambridge Arts Theatre

I’m really excited and will relish the challenge of a new venue.

Also

I’m proud to say that one of my charcoal drawings of France has been selected for exhibition in the Mall Galleries in London as part of The Derwent Art Prize 2018

Just finished teaching on the design course at RWCMD. Some really talented international designers. Cant wait to see their final exhibition next month.

Had a wonderful time directing Rattigan FLARE PATH at Italia Conti in Feb/March. What a wonderful play with glorious writing. He really is a Master

Was honoured to be nominated as Best Director in the GREAT BRITISH PANTOMIME AWARDS. Didn’t win but had a great night at the New Wimbledon Theatre. I think these are really important awards. Fantastic that this organisation exists. The establishment is so good at ignoring pantomime and it is a very important part of british theatre. Its is generally ignored alongside puppetry, mask work and young peoples theatre!!

In the middle of doing the prework for PEGGYS SONG by Kath Chandler a new play I am directing for the National Theatre of Wales. Its part of a series of new plays that celebrate the magnificent NHS

In July I am directing A DAUGHTERS A DAUGHTER by Agatha Christie for Suffolk Summer Theatre in Southwold. I love the play and I’m really looking forward to my now annual trip to the east coast

In August I’m running workshops for Luxembourg European Annual Theatre Summer School.

This will be followed by a series of workshops in Hamburg

Also in August I will be running a series of workshops in Pembrokeshire for the wonderful Pint Sized Plays Company

So that’s me sorted theatre-wise for the next few months

ART

Been fairly busy creating some very large painting of Welsh  Landscapes which has been great fun

Did a screen printing workshop in Hereford and I’m just about to do a mono printing course with Neal Bally. Can’t wait

I’m exhibiting in hArt in the Print Shed in September

Going to Aix en Provence painting in the autumn

 

Then its Panto time!!!!!!!

A very busy autumn.

GEORGES MARVELLOUS MEDICINE has toured to the Middle East.

DICK WHITTINGTON is playing to sell out audiences in Cheltenham, and

SLEEPING BEAUTY is going down a storm in Rhyl

A really great autumn and I’m proud of all my shows

Really looking forward to a quiet Xmas with the family and then New Year in Rotterdam.

In January/February GEORGES MARVELLOUS MEDICINE will tour to India.

At the end of January I go to London to direct Terence Rattigans  FLARE PATH for Italia Conti

 

I spent a week in Northern Scotland with my dear friend Hilary in October in an Artists Retreat

I really enjoyed it and created some interesting new work

Lots of sales this year , which is great. If you want to buy click on ART on the website

 

Merry Xmas to Everyone and have a great New Year

Well the Cheltenham panto is cast. Seems like a great cast to me….!!!! Script is written. Now on to design. really looking forward to it.

Very pleased at the prospect of working with PINT SIZED PLAYS in Pembrokeshire next month. Such a great company. Innovative !

Also going to be doing some training with the Youth Theatre staff a Theatr Brycheiniog. Exciting

Then it will be off to Luxembourg in July……cant wait to see everyone on Summer School

And Southwold in August.

My production of Georges Marvellous Medicine is probably going to India in the Autumn and then on to the Middle East.

Then its Panto time

 

Just seen lots of events at Hay Literature Festival….Magnificent.  Victoria Hislop, Nicholas Hytner, Ken Dodd…..yes the glorious Doddie, Michael Sheen…magnificent and Ken Loach. All this on my doorstep. Another great reason for living in Mid Wales

 

I’m hopefully having an exhibition of my paintings at Ty Mawr Lime in Llangasty in the Summer…watch this space. They are already stocking my cards along with Haymakers Gallery in Hay on Wye

I will be exhibiting a series of Solar Etchings at THE PRINT SHED as part of hArt, Hereford open studios in September

 

 

Its been a busy year so far……

Directed OUR TOWN by Thornton Wilder at Italia Conti in London in January. What a magnificent play. Really enjoyed working with the students. It was so good to work on a great text and be very inventive. A real ensemble production. Adored it. Hoping to go back next January

Just opened Mike Kennys new play FOLLOW ME. Another great text. This has been in development for two years and its so good to see it on stage at last. Ive been working with a truly great and inspirational team Jay Lusted, actor. Chris Preece, composer /musician and Dom Phillips company manager. Three wonderful people. All so talented and committed but also visionary. We produced the show in English and Welsh. Its done a short tour of Wales. I really hope there is a further life for this play. Its one of my best, thanks to an amazing team. Also a very important play for today.

Just about to do my annual teach for the design department at RWCMD…..really looking forward it.

Ive been commissioned to write and direct the Panto for Cheltenham Everyman again….which is great… so Ill start writing after Easter

Rest of the year looking like this……

July           Luxembourg Summer School

August      The Man Upstairs     Southwold Summer Theatres

Oct/Nov   Dick Whittington  Cheltenham

Nov/Dec  Sleeping Beauty   Rhyl

Jan            Italia Conti

 

Painting wise……Ive been quiet….but

Had four works in THE DRAWING EXHIBITION at the Albany Gallery in Cardiff

Albany Gallery will be exhibiting a number of my landscapes and prints over the next few months

Time to start creating some new works…..lots of ideas buzzing around in my head….cant wait

 

Well the year is nearly over, and its been a busy one……

All the Xmas shows have gone well

GEORGES MARVELLOUS MEDICINE has done incredible business all over the country. Lovely to see it playing to packed houses in Theatr Brycheiniog

JACK AND THE BEANSTALK had fantastic revues in Cheltenham and has played to packed houses. This is the tenth year I have written and directed the pantomime for the Everyman Theatre. A great company and a really great show….so proud. My thanks to all the team

PETER PAN at the Pavilion in Rhyl was a real learning curve. All that flying on stage and up and over the audience. They are a great team in Rhyl and a joy to work with.

My original production of HORRIBLE CHRISTMAS is playing at the Lowry Theatre in Manchester

So as you can imagine I’m a bit Christmas’d out!!!!!!!

Paintings have been selling really well this year and I’m really proud to have won the inaugural  Saatchi Open Studio Award’ 16

The beginning of 2017 is busy

In January I will direct Thornton Wilders OUR TOWN as one of the final productions for third year students at Italia Conti Theatre School in London….very excited. I’ve never done the play and its a first time of working at Contis. New Year New Places New Challenges

In February we ill create Mike Kennys’ play FOLLOW ME to tour in English and Welsh throughout Wales in March. This project has been in development for two years and I’m really excited about creating the final production. A great team to work with.

In January The Albany Gallery in Roath, Cardiff will exhibit some of my drawings and later ,in early spring they will be showing some of my Welsh landscapes. This is all new for me, but so exciting.

So lots of new things for me in the new year, I’m excited…..and as usual nervous…..can’t wait

HAPPY NEW YEAR to everyone