Biographies
Spike is a company limited by guarantee, made up of a co-directorship and a pool of associates, freelance actors, writers, designers, musical directors and practitioners.


Artistic Director

Mark Smith
A graduate of Liverpool John Moore’s University, Mark trained at Hope Street on both the Theatre for Young People and Physical Theatre Courses.

He devised and performed in Bank Job, BLT, Backwater and is a Hoof regular. Spike direction includes This Side Up and Gin & Tonic and Passing Trains, redirection on Backwater and both Robin Hood and Alice in Wonderland for the company's annual Theatre in the Parks project.

Other performance work includes “I Can't Believe You Did That!” and “MTEC TV” with the Hope Street; “The Pitchfork Disney” at Unity Theatre and the world tour of “666” produced by Spanish clown company - Yllana.

He is also responsible for Spike’s outreach activities in the Northwest.

Administrative Director

Adrian Turrell-Watts

Trained in Wolverhampton & Dudley, Adrian 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.

 

Board of Trustees

Claire Amos, John Bridge, Tim Brown, Deborah Escott, Jamie Greer, Deirdre Lynskey, Gordon Millar.

 

 

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Spike Associates:

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!’ (See ‘Spike Family Tree’) To date he has co-devised and directed all touring productions for the company.

Glenn was Programme Coordinator for Hope Street’s renowned Physical Theatre Programme for six happy years and has also taught for both Liverpool Hope University, Liverpool John Moore’s University and currently Coventry University.


He delivers workshops and training throughout the UK.

Julie Walker

Julie has devised with Spike since 1998 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.

She is currently establishing her own 'Guided Play' company.

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.

Steve Wallis
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. He went on to work in TIE with “First Bite” and for Hope Street/MYPT.

He joined Spike in 1998 devising and performing in The Bak Job and B.L.T., he is also a Hoof improviser.

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.

And to the many talented folk that have worked with us in recent years...


Aisling Leyne, Alan Richardson, Alex Norton, Alicia Smith, Amanda Quigley, Andy Frizell, Artemis, Austin Mitchel Hewitt, Balvinder Singh Hayer, Becky Barnett, Bianca Judd, Brian D. Hanlon, Chris Nelson, Chris Price, Denise Kennedy, Dharmesh Patel, Eilidh Bryan, Eleanor Randle, Fillipo Fiori, Fionnuala Dorrity, Griff Griffiths, Gemma Aldcroft, Harry Kingham, Helen Bright, Helen Davies, Helen Flooks, Ian Davis, Jackie Skinner, James Bazley, Jamie Greer, Jenny De Ornellas, Jo Pocock, Jo Topping, Jon Burke, Jonathan Raison, Justin Bremmen, Kate Crossley, Keddy Sutton, Kerry Harvey, Liam Tobin, Lisa Chae, Matthew Wood, Matt Rutter, Mike Grey, Mike Strand, Mike Wight, Natalie Bosworth, Nick Kellington, Paula Berry, Paul Duckworth, Paul McDonough, Paul Skinner, Phil Saunders, Ramesh Meyyappan, Sigrid Kristofferson, Simon James, Steve Edgar, Tim Hemmings, Tim Lynskey, Tom Smith, Yorgos Karamalegos

and all of the community volunteers, student placements and youth theatre members...

...Thanks!