Red Dog was a real dog. He lived an independent life, owned by no-one but befriended by many, often making unlikely alliances, in the heat and dust of the Pilbara Desert, in the outback of Western Australia. His life was one of adventure, discovery, fun, and sometimes danger. If dogs were allocated lives the way cats are he would have used all of his lives up! So he captures the spirit of what theatre can be – fun, dangerous, unlikely. And theatre, like Red Dog, can travel anywhere and be part of anyone’s life, even if just for one evening. So Red Dog we are…
Red Dog enjoys meeting and working with new people, however we have a pool of creative people we collaborate with and have worked with more than once, and who are very much considered part of the Red Dog team.
Kate Abraham (Creative Director) trained at Oxford School of Drama. She founded Red Dog in 2005 and has lead the company as it’s creative director and producer, as well as acting in many of the productions. She has worked for, amongst others, Bath Theatre Royal, Derby Playhouse, Cheltenham Everyman and BBC Radio 4.
Ian Gain (Associate Director,Producer/Actor) has worked with Red Dog for more than 7 years as an actor. His production company, Off the Canvas, presented Arthur & Esther at the Oxford Fringe Festival 2015 in collaboration with Red Dog. Ian has worked extensively in television, film and stage and is an experienced workshop facilitator, role player and devisor.
Jude Emmet (Director/Writer/Actor) has adapted and directed 6 plays for young children for Red Dog: The Ugly Duckling, The Frog Prince, The Master Cat, The Great Bear of the North (shortlisted for The Brian Way Award 2012), The Emperor and the Nightingale and Sofia and the Sleeping Prince. In 2012 she adapted Dickens’ Dombey and Son for the company, and in 2016 Dicken’s A Christmas Carol which met with great success. Jude spent 6 years as an associate of the company, giving her experience and knowledge to all aspects of productions and projects, and in 2016 she stepped back from this role, but continues to be a committed supporter of the company.
Julia Edwards ( Marketing & Communications Consultant) has worked with the company for many years promoting the productions and liaising with schools to bring new audiences to theatre. She previously worked as Sales Manager for West End Theatre Agency, ‘Applause’ and ‘First Call’.
Sue Colverd (DIrector) was Artistic Director of The Everyman Theatre Cheltenham from 1996 to 2007, where she directed classics through to new writing. Other directing credits include Tilt Theatre Company, Freefall Theatre Company, The Oxford Stage Company, Show of Strength as well as Red Dog. Sue trained as an actor at Bristol Old Vic Theatre School and has worked for the RSC, The National, Bristol Old Vic, Actors Touring Company, Northampton Theatre Royal and Oxford Stage Company where she was nominated for the Olivier Comedy performance of the year. Sue has directed our main productions since 2010 and is course leader of Performing Arts at the University of Gloucestershire.
Corinne Hockley (Designer) is a textile designer based at Stroud Valley Artspace, where she creates intricately stitched and embellished narrative pieces, using a wide variety of media, exploring themes of freedom and constraint, ritual and romance. Alongside other high profile designers she is part of Studio Seven collective. In 2007 they began working on projects bringing textiles to audiences in new and surprising contexts. She has worked with the company for over 6 years, creating stunning set and costumes for our touring shows.
Karthryn Clarke (Designer) is a textile and fashion designer based in Stroud. Her work has sold in shops and galleries across the country, and has been exhibited at many trade fairs. As part of the Studio Seven textile collective she has created costumes and textile pieces for site specific performance and installation in inspiring venues. She has worked with Red Dog for the last 6 years designing and creating costumes and set dressings for our children’s theatre productions.
Corin Hayes (Lighting Designer) has lit all of our productions and we could not imagine working without him. He is the resident lighting and sound designer and stage manager for the Studio at The Everyman Theatre Cheltenham.
Colin Sell (Composer/Musical Director) has worked with us on two of our productions (The house of Bernarda Alba and Dombey and Son). He is well known to BBC radio 4 listeners from panel games I’m Sorry I haven’t a Clue and Whose Line is it Anyway. `He is an accomplished jazz and blues musician and has had extensive experience as a musical director and composer in many repertory theatres, as well as for the Royal Shakespeare Company, Cheek by Jowl and other major companies.