A bit about us...
Established in 1997, Spike Theatre is a small-scale, touring theatre company that creates accessible, engaging and visually exciting work. With an emphasis on exploring and developing a bold style of storytelling using physical creativity, it draws upon various disciplines such as, acrobatics, ensemble performance, animation, puppetry, mime, clown and strong characterisation. Spike produces an original style of ‘Total’ theatre with the performer at the centre of its creative force.
The company also has a thriving education wing, developed through an understanding of the need for and appropriateness of physical theatre in the Education sector. Through this work, Spike not only develops audiences for it’s productions but also enables young people to access high quality work as participants.
The company also has a thriving education wing, developed through an understanding of the need for and appropriateness of physical theatre in the Education sector. Through this work, Spike not only develops audiences for it’s productions but also enables young people to access high quality work as participants.
Artistic Director
Mark Smith
Mark Smith is currently Artistic Director of Spike Theatre and has been with the company in one form or another since 1997. I have been working for the past 9 years solely as a director, prior to this I was an actor touring the UK and Europe in a variety of different shows. I create work for other companies and venues across the UK many of which have gone on to receive nominations or awards.
I am a visiting director at LIPA and Liverpool John Moores Univeristy, teaching on numerous practical based modules (Mask, Physical Theatre, Improvisation, Devising). I deliver professional training for other organisations and have been teaching for the past 12 years.
I am a huge social media nut, and this has led me to develop and deliver a variety of workshops and masterclasses for corporate clients across the North West. I am a regular blogger and can be found tweeting whenever I am not working.
Click on the pic to go to Mark's website
I am a visiting director at LIPA and Liverpool John Moores Univeristy, teaching on numerous practical based modules (Mask, Physical Theatre, Improvisation, Devising). I deliver professional training for other organisations and have been teaching for the past 12 years.
I am a huge social media nut, and this has led me to develop and deliver a variety of workshops and masterclasses for corporate clients across the North West. I am a regular blogger and can be found tweeting whenever I am not working.
Click on the pic to go to Mark's website
Administration Director
Adrian Turrell-Watts
Adrian Turrell-Watts is Spike's man in the office who talks to promoters, organises and gets things done. He has been working in professional theatre since the dawn of the Millennium and has produced and/or marketed work for Rejects Revenge, Spike and Fittings Multimedia Arts and performed at Birmingham’s Fierce! and Liverpool’s Homotopia festivals and Queer up North.
Adrian is a cabaret, variety and live art nut and produces events, club nights and festivals as well as keeping Spike organised.
Adrian is a cabaret, variety and live art nut and produces events, club nights and festivals as well as keeping Spike organised.
Associate Artists
Glenn Noble
Glenn Noble, originally from Hartlepool in the North-East, Glenn suffers like many Hartlepudlians under the burden of the ‘Monkey Hanging’ legend. He keeps promising a show about it, but perhaps therapy would be cheaper.
He dreamt up Spike Theatre as he graduated way back in 1993, when he devised the first ever Spike show - ‘Megabyte Bites Back!’ Till 2009 he co-devised and directed the majority of the touring productions for the company. Glenn was Programme Coordinator for Hope Street’s renowned Physical Theatre Programme for six happy years and is currently senior lecturer at Coventry University.
He dreamt up Spike Theatre as he graduated way back in 1993, when he devised the first ever Spike show - ‘Megabyte Bites Back!’ Till 2009 he co-devised and directed the majority of the touring productions for the company. Glenn was Programme Coordinator for Hope Street’s renowned Physical Theatre Programme for six happy years and is currently senior lecturer at Coventry University.
Julie Walker
Julie Walker has devised with Spike since 1997 and has performed in national tours of The Bank Job, B.L.T., The Man Who Cracked and the Edinburgh Festival run of Madam I'm Adam.
Her theatre credits include: Three Sisters and Road to Nowhere, both for Dream Ticket Productions; “The Little Prince” for Oxfordshire Touring Theatre Co/Trading Faces; “Out of the Blue” with Rejects Revenge. Random Oracle for the Unity Theatre, Liverpool, as part of a Three Woman Project directed by Peta Lily.
Her television work includes Jimmy McGoverns Hearts and Minds and the film Butterfly Kiss. Julie is currently working as a clown doctor.
Her theatre credits include: Three Sisters and Road to Nowhere, both for Dream Ticket Productions; “The Little Prince” for Oxfordshire Touring Theatre Co/Trading Faces; “Out of the Blue” with Rejects Revenge. Random Oracle for the Unity Theatre, Liverpool, as part of a Three Woman Project directed by Peta Lily.
Her television work includes Jimmy McGoverns Hearts and Minds and the film Butterfly Kiss. Julie is currently working as a clown doctor.
Steve Wallis
He joined Spike in 1997 devising and performing in The Bank Job, B.L.T. and The Sandman, Steve is also a regular in Hoof!. A graduate of Liverpool Polytechnic, Steve Wallis trained with Philipe Gaulier and established Shoestring Circus on the crest of the new circus wave spending several years fire blowing around Britain.
Touring Internationally with Trestle in “Hanging Around”, Steve has also taught and directed at Liverpool Hope University College, Hope Street and St Helens Citadel and Liverpool JMU. He teaches Circus skills, Acrobatics, Mask and Clown for Spike.
Touring Internationally with Trestle in “Hanging Around”, Steve has also taught and directed at Liverpool Hope University College, Hope Street and St Helens Citadel and Liverpool JMU. He teaches Circus skills, Acrobatics, Mask and Clown for Spike.
Spike Trustees
A big thank you to our trustees without whom we could not run Spike, a huge source of faith, advice and inspiration. Claire Amos, John Bridge, Tim Brown, Deborah Escott and Deirdre Lynskey.
Spike Theatre is the trading name of Spike Theatre Ltd, registered in England and Wales.
Company Reg No: 663 4750. Charity Reg No: 1133362
Registered Office: 13a Hope Street, Liverpool L1 9BQ.
Tel: +44(0)151 727 3575
Email: mail@spiketheatre.com
Company Reg No: 663 4750. Charity Reg No: 1133362
Registered Office: 13a Hope Street, Liverpool L1 9BQ.
Tel: +44(0)151 727 3575
Email: mail@spiketheatre.com
