I'm behind on social media posting. Too much good stuff going on. Sunday's exams with @jackofallblade saw a wonderful amalgamation of pretence violence and scenes. Not only was everybody enjoyable to watch and did really well, I got to take to the stage myself, not once but twice. Thank you @nxoj_.g for being an awesome Dustin to my Steve and for teaching me new things about chess (one day I will dedicate the time to learn to solve a rubick cube, too). And thank you @jackofallblade for being the Archchacellor of the Unseen University to my Granny Weatherwax, and thanks to all the wizards who made this one of my favourite exams ever. Honestly, this course was nothing but joy. The next day saw me at a War Horse rehearsal in London, where I am currently on fight director trainee placement (more on that later), fast forward to my travel back via Lincoln (in my Granny Weatherwax boots because I was too tired on Sunday to take them off and ended up travelling to London in them, then couldn't fit them in my bag for the way back). Teaching day at Lincoln University (so close to exams there, too). And straight back into exams at Leeds Becket University yesterday.

It is world theatre day 2026 and I'll be damned if I don't make a post about that. In these crazy times when it feels like we don't really have control over what happens in the world, when we often feel helpless and frustrated over our limited ability to make things better, I find the katharsis of theatre more important than ever before. And especially stage combat is incredibly therapeutic in a climate of suppressed ability to take action. We have that inner drive to fight for justice and in stage combat my body at least gets the physical release of that drive, even if it is pretence. Some days standing in a studio with a sword in hand, either teaching or learning, is the thing that stops me tearing my hair out over the state of the world. Happy world theatre day from this stage combat nerd to all of you out there!

Congratulations to the 1st and 2nd year at Manchester School of Theatre The University of Manchester. Standard level done. Thanks to Marie Drisch Vicki Glover and Birte Widmann. With a special thanks to Anna McNamara for bring it all to life. Thanks all and well done 🥳👏

Over the course of about a month, I've had the great fortune to be in the rehearsal room several times for Small Island at the Leeds Playhouse. I got to spend days watching this production come together, ask questions and meet the creatives putting their talents together to tell this remarkable story. Last night I went and saw it up and running, on its feet, bringing the audience to tears and I felt so proud to have been around when it was made. Go and see it! In Leeds till 28th March, then touring to Birmingham and Nottingham. Thank you to @excalibah for allowing me in the room repeatedly. Thank you @kevfight for letting me shadow your work. Shoutout to @ashajgmovement for an incredible job on movement. Thank you @leedsplayhouse for the opportunity for early career (movement) directors, to observe. And thanks to the cast and team of Small Island, who have welcomed me warmly and made this a very special experience indeed.

Our second photographer for the winter course - @mandyjamesworks - really capturing the feeling in the room; why we all come away from these events buzzing and needing a little sit down 😂 Thank you again for coming in and documenting our delightful chaos ⚔️🪓 #actortraining #fightdirector #sword #stagecombat #leeds #yorkshire

Some pictures from promo shootings over the last year have emerged. I think my younger self would be pleased seeing these. A child had a dream once... Courtesy of @jackofallblade

More coverage of our Winter Course! Photo credits to Cieran at @paleravenpictures The post-training blues are real! 😭⚔ Next course is all the way off in April, so in the meantime I can get stuck into some film and theatre productions! #equityfightdirector #actortraining #fightchoreography #yorkshireactors #stunts #sword #axe

Some very late pictures from the infamous masquarade in December. My pleasure crossing spears with @jaxby.fighter while @jackofallblade watches from a distance. I give you Athena vs Odin. Photo credits go to @mandyjamesworks

First day at the gym. I found my favourite corner to fool around in. My hands did not entirely enjoy the punching bag, but it is high time I did some conditioning. Thank you @jackofallblade for the introduction to gym life. Ps: I'm standing on a balance board in that second picture. Forgot to adjust for Insta... happy New Year.

Last stage combat deed of the year: teach a first fencing lesson with sausages. Have a great 2026, everyone.

The proper photos have come back from Alexandra’s 30th. Of course, I’ve been all over the ones of my husbandly swashbuckling - very difficult to cut it down to 20! #fightdirector #equityfightdirector #sword #mythology #spear #stagecombat #lovemyjob

Alexandra (my ever patient wife) had her 30th birthday party last weekend, and let me put some fights on with some of my esteemed colleagues. It was a folklore & mythology masquerade ball, so we had to do a showcase of battles of the gods! Hermes vs Dionysus - sabres Athena & Odin vs Dionysus - unarmed Athena vs Odin - spears Odin vs Hermes - smallsword Thank you all for coming and either watching or fighting! I’m sure we’ll do this again! As always - this is choreographed - please do not try this at home ‼️ #fightdirector #stagecombat #mythology #Hermes #Odin #Athena #Dionysus #swordfight #spearfight