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Our
People
Scott Ramsay
People and Stories is led by Scott Ramsay, a practitioner with over 35 years experience of creating and presenting work with UK companies, including Chester Gateway, the Edinburgh Festival, English Touring Theatre, Harlow Playhouse, the Royal National Theatre, New Theatre Royal Portsmouth, Perth Theatre, Phoenix Dance Theatre, the Royal Shakespeare Company, the BBC and Grampian TV. He has toured projects to over 100 venues, nationally and internationally.
Scott is an acclaimed writer and director. Alongside his theatre work, he has written and developed courses for Bristol Old Vic Theatre School and University West of England, was a Business Advisor for Arts and Business, and Trustee of Bristol’s Kingswood Foundation/Creative Youth Network.
Originally from Scotland, Scott has been based in Urban South-East Hampshire for the last seven years, where he has brought over 1,000 experiences to over a quarter of a million participants. His most recent projects include The Party, The Secret Garden, Christmas Comes but Twice a Year, UNDERTOW:1982, Sanctuary, and The Adventures of Florence and the Mermaid's Tears.
Our Associates
Janet Ayers
Janet is a singing and storytelling artist based in Portsmouth, leading community choirs, singing groups, and projects across the region. She teaches and curates folk songs from around the globe and is a composer of her own work. Janet currently runs Southsea Community Choir, Blokes Sing, Sing for Water, Singing for Wellbeing, and the Big Sing in Southsea. Janet was recently awarded an honorary degree from the University of Portsmouth, in recognition of her community music and arts work.
Tip Cullen
Tip is an actor and theatre-maker, and prior to this he was a Royal Marine Commando for 30 years. His latest work includes ‘Lola Arias’ (International tour), Michael Morpurgo’s ‘Little Manfred’ (UK tour), ‘Silent Roar’ (BBC Scotland), and ‘Sunray’ (Feature film). Tip supports People and Stories efforts to make the arts accessible to all and holds a special interest in serving our local Armed Forces Veteran Community.
Majid Dhana
Majid is a Zimbabwean-born spoken word and combined artist, whose refugee experience shapes a commitment to providing a voice for those who feel they do not have one. His ability to frame universal themes, human-nature and wellbeing through his work, offer relatable insights for all our communities, encompassing resilience and empowerment. Majid's recent work includes Sanctuary for People and Stories, Sirens for Mast Studios, and commissions for Journeys Festival International, New Theatre Royal Portsmouth, Aspex, The Front Room, and Victorious Festival.
Nathalie Gunn
Nathalie trained at Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts, and Portsmouth University, and is a well-established face in the local arts scene, performing with People and Stories, Black Hat Theatrical and New Apollo Theatre Company. She works as a director, producer and teacher, is project manager for Portsmouth Young Creatives, and is lead singer of The Spoils. Nathalie's recent work with People and Stories includes UNDERTOW:1982, Florence and the Mermaid's Tears, and TheatreMaker.
Poppy Lowles
Poppy trained with the National Youth Theatre and the RSC, and since moving to Portsmouth has appeared in numerous productions and projects across the region, including Shakespeare productions and immersive events at historic venues in London and across the South Coast. Poppy also works with People and Stories on our Audience Development and Communication Strategies, to make our reach into our communities as effective as possible.
Matt Parsons
Matt is a multi-media artist and musican, working with film, sound, model making, installations, drawings and text. He gathers materials from popular and folk culture, and contrasts these within contemporary storytelling. Matt's recent work includes The Party, UNDERTOW:1982, Sanctuary, TheatreMaker, and Florence and the Mermaid's Tears for People and Stories, and projects at Deptford Foundry, Curate Hackney, Goldsmith's, Aspex, and John Hansard galleries. He trained in Fine Art at Goldsmiths, and Visual Studies and the University of Portsmouth.
Geraldine Ramsay
Geraldine is a project manager and theatre practitioner, based in Portsmouth. Over the last 25 years she has worked across the UK and overseas with the Royal Shakespeare Company, Kneehigh Theatre, Bristol Old Vic, Redcape Theatre, Venice Biennale, and Bristol Arnolfini. Geraldine works with People and Stories to bring the lighting and scenography of our live productions to life.
Liz Weston
Liz Weston is one of UK’s leading community arts practitioners and activists. Her ground-breaking arts regeneration work across London includes West Soho, Spitalfields, Tower Hamlets, and Covent Garden where she established its world-famous street theatre. Liz’s name is synonymous with community arts across South-East Hampshire, having worked with the New Theatre Royal, Aspex, Portsmouth Cultural Trust, Artswork and Active Communities Network. Most recently, Liz was interim Director of Making Space in Leigh Park, Havant.
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