Member database

Bristol based, but also working nationally and internationally, Dr Anna Farthing works to commission as a writer, director, producer and consultant for those wishing to engage with drama in museum education, theatre and media. Anna can be engaged as an individual freelancer, or for larger projects through her company Harvest Heritage Arts and Media. A specialist in creative active learning, she also has a PhD from Manchester University in engaging the public with difficult and sensitive histories through drama and this has led to opportunities to present her research and professional practice at international conferences, and as a visiting lecturer to university students. Anna joined the board of IMTAL Europe in 2006 and was Chair from 2009 to 2012. She stood down at the 2012 AGM in order to focus on her own projects. Clients have included: Conservatoire for Dance and Drama (www.cdd.ac.uk).

Chris Cade is a freelance actor and storyteller working in museums, schools, heritage sites and community venues across Yorkshire and beyond. Born in Hull, Chris is based near York. He trained at St.John's College, York (B.Ed Hons) and Bretton Hall (M.A. Educational Theatre) and is a co-founder of Platform 4 Theatre at the National Railway Museum (1991 - present). Since becoming full time self-employed in 2005, Chris has undertaken commissions to research, write and deliver museum theatre for Barnsley, Bradford, Hull, Leeds, Redcar & Cleveland and York Museums. Chris is a member of EQUITY and has portrayed high profile characters such as Joseph Rowntree ( new for 2017), Captain Arthur Radclyffe Dugmore (2016), LS Lowry (2015), Henry Pease (2014), Richard III (2013), Captain Edward J Smith (2012), George Hudson (2011), Pharoah Ramses II (2010), Charles Darwin (2009), Edwin Chadwick (2008), William Wilberforce (2007) and Isambard Kingdom Brunel (2006).

Based in the Northwest, I have been working with museums, heritage sites and art galleries throughout the UK for fifteen years: as a creative consultant, script-writer, director, actor/facilitator, maker and mentor. Current projects include: "Playing Out in Manchester" (working title) - funded by the Arts Council, Grants for the Arts, I will be working with Matt Wardle and Alison Hale to create a participatory performance that will link with the collections and galleries of three cultural venues in Greater Manchester. John Rylands Library, Salford Museum and Art Gallery and the People's History Museum are actively seeking to build relationships with local schools with specialist support provision and are involved in the creative development of this session for children and young people with special educational needs.

I work at the Museum of Fine Arts Budapest since 2001 at the Department of Classical Antiquities as a museum educator. I am also a drama teacher (trained by the Hungarian Drama and Theatre in Education Association in 2004). I took part in a workshop on interpreting in 2007 (organized by the Foundation for Museums and Visitors, Hungary, involving experts of Past Pleasures Ltd., UK). I have been on a study tour in the UK twice (2005, 2011). The second time I was an intern at Past Pleasures Ltd. Since 2008 at the Museum of Fine Arts I plan live interpretation sessions, assemble and prepare research material for the interpreters and train them. We do first person interpretation. Usually we play different ancient Greek and Roman characters for children groups, such as the Goddess Pallas Athene, a vase painter from ancient Athens, a slave girl from ancient Athens, and an ancient Roman sculptor.

Formerly an Education Officer for Devon Learning Resources and prior to that a Museum Learning Officer for Exeter Museum, providing artefact and role-play based workshops, I am now a Freelance Heritage Learning Specialist. I am a fully qualified teacher with eleven years experience in the classroom and have been involved with theatre in some form ever since I was a child. My experience has ranged from amateur dramatics to outdoor Shakespeare productions to co-producing school shows to running after school drama clubs. I studied and obtained A' level Drama and Theatre Studies at adult night classes. Professionally I have been an Egyptian priestess, ARP warden, Ancient Briton, Victorian Schoolteacher and Florence Nightingale!!

Currently I am the Learning Manager at The National trust for Scotland's Culloden Battlefield. This post was developed to support the provision of accessible formal and informal learning at NTS Culloden as well as taking responsibility for on site live interpretation. This is done through leadership, partnership and people management – I manage a team of 20 volunteers, 4 staff and work within a large property team. My background is in live interpretation, I have developed, delivered/commissioned and evaluated programs in a range of venues in both Canada and Scotland. One of the key challenges of my current role is to balance informal and formal learning provision on site and to ensure that learning is at the heart of the Culloden experience.

Lara is the founder/director of Bard Unbound. Bard Unbound is a theatre partnership devoted to site-specific and bespoke performance design in museum and heritage settings specialising in Shakespeare. We are available in Europe and North America providing production design and direction, workshops, dramaturgy and story services. Bard Unbound explores new and classic works using site-specific performance immersion, externalising the action to make it accessible to varied audiences and promoting dynamic dramatic design. We devise workshops and learning experiences, and facilitate the work of emerging professionals including actors, directors, dramaturgs, writers and critics.

I am the programmer for the IMTAL website.

Performing as Peterkin the Fool, Peet interprets the character of the Court and country fool from early Mediaeval to Jacobean times. Having worked for English Heritage for whom he is their National Jester, Historic Royal Palaces, Historic Scotland, Cadw, as well as at Windsor Castle, Hever CAstle and host of castles, houses and hotels, Peterkin is th efool of choice for the heritage and museum sector. Peet is also creative director of Foolscap Productions for whom he has devised various multi performer pieces for HRP, Historic Scotland and English Heritage. Foolscap are currently working in collaboration with the Misfits Theatre Company on a commission from Historic Royal Palaces to bring an interpretive performance on the role of learning disabled performers in the court of Henry VIII.

Freelance interpreter. Has worked with British Waterways, Croydon Clock Tower, HRP (through andrew ashmore & associates), Rutland Railway Museum.

Originally I am an operasinger, ( still am !) but my great interest in Culture and history lead me to mediate history through my art. Without knowing anything about Museum Theatre, that was actually what I was doing in old Manorhouses and museums. I got more and more involved and were through my engagement headhunted for a job as director of a small museum. After we were forced to go into fusion with bigger museums I lost my job - only being an operasinger and not educated museumexpert. And I was also looked down at, since my way of running the museum and mediating the cultural heritage was alternative - being done in a very large scale through art. Unfortunatly - cause people and the press loved what I was doing. That made me think! - I was obviously doing something right - making people and especially the young generations come to my museum! - but what? I decided to educate as a museum prof.

I'm based at the University of Manchester, as Emeritus Professor of Educational Theatre, and was Director of the "Performance, Learning & Heritage" research project, 2005-8. The research and the database are available online at www.plh.manchester.ac.uk. Now retired, I continue to research and write. Recent books include "Learning through Theatre" (3rd edition, co-edited with Chris Vine, 2013), "Theatre, Education & the Making of Meanings" (2007)and (co-edited with Jenny Kidd), "PERFORMING HERITAGE: research, practice & innovation in museum theatre and live interpretation".