Biography

After graduating from high school in the United States, I travelled to the West Indies to work on charter yachts for a year before returning to London, where I eventually studied Sound Design and Technical Theatre. This was followed by a spell in the music industry and backstage in theatres before spending three further years at drama school. Just as my career as an actor was about to start, I was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis, and years of drifting, lack of direction and indolence were focused in an abrupt epiphany thanks not to the diagnosis, but the manner in which it was delivered.

Realising that a fundamental change occurs within even the most resourceful of people when they step into a highly charged situation, Island 41 was founded with the purpose of using actors’ techniques in everyday settings. I began building my portfolio and defining my style over the following years, and now conceive, design and deliver my work in the United Kingdom and Continental Europe, Canada and Brazil, North Africa and the Far East. I have NCDT certificates in theatrical stage management and acting, am an accredited practitioner for MBTI, Belbin, SDI, C-Me and NLP, and have successfully completed an internationally recognised course in Transactional Analysis.

In 2009 I began drafting short essays as a method of refining my thoughts, and this sparked a new career, alongside my existing work, as a writer. I published a collection of letters in 2015, a second book (also available as an audiobook) about presentation delivery in 2021 and occasionally write posts on a number of transferable skills and related topics.

In response to the Coronavirus Pandemic, I drew on my training in technical theatre and production to develop a style of online workshop that complements the face to face work I deliver, and believe that personal effectiveness is directly linked to the ability and willingness to build, maintain and continually develop healthy interpersonal relationships. I feel that communication should be clear, direct, simple and unambiguous, and am a dedicated champion of experiential learning.

In 2023 I combined my technical production experience with my ability to perform and present in order to create a niche video production service that sits between the ease of AI and the cost of a full production company.

I live with my wife, son and daughter in Christchurch on the south coast of the UK. Away from work I am a Samaritans volunteer, enjoy walking as much as my health permits, follow the growth of Tom’s Wood from a distance, and am a keen amateur photographer.