Profiles
Robert Daniels: Artistic Director/Performer
Robert took the main work of the company over from Joff in 2002, and has continued to develop the collective and work on with The Black Box. A graduate of the University of Northampton, and University of Kent; his most recent work; scorezer0 was funded by the Arts Council, and is supported by RALP funded Choreographic Lab. His previous work; playing with mySelf was also supported by the Battersea Arts Centre (BAC) and funded by the Arts Council. Other work includes, collaborations with Jane Bacon (red leaf dance videos) on two entries for the Video Place’s One Minute Wander dance video competition (winners; 2000), premiered at Cinemateket 2001 by the Danish film institute and Bodyworks 2001 festival in Melbourne. Robert is also a senior lecturer in Performing Arts at the University of Chichester.
Emily Coleman: Producer/Stage Manager/Performer
Emily’s experience is within venue management, currently at Farnham Maltings and previously Gardner Arts Centre and Komedia Brighton. The skills obtained through her employment provide a sound background in the programming, logistical, health and safety, marketing and staff management decisions of a successful arts organisation. As a graduate from UoN and a core member of Bootworks since 2002 she is not only interested in directing and performing in performances but also in producing any future work.
James Baker: Education and Participation Coordinator/Performer
James is a trained performer who specialises in ensemble-led physical theatre. He graduated from the University of Chichester with a BA (Hons) in Performing Arts and joined Bootworks in 2006; devising, performing and developing our education programme. His principal interests lie with mask-work and the physicality of the performer which reflects vibrantly within the work he creates. James is also the Artistic Director of Fluid Theatre; a newly established TIE company that facilitates the devising processes of young performers. He is currently looking to further his artistic practise within an Advanced Theatre Practise MA programme at Dartington College of Arts.
Laura Bern
Laura joined Bootworks in 2007 as a performer and administrator. As a freelance practitioner, Laura is a writer and solo performer; currently working on a number of small projects for her own and others work.
Natalie Green
Recently graduated with a BA (Hons) in Performing Arts from the University of Chichester, Natalie has been involved with Bootworks since the beginning of 2008. Her main interest lies within performance and the physicality of character. Since leaving university she is continuing to pursue a career within the arts, by aiding in various drama workshops for young children and is also currently part of Chaplins Touring Theatre Company. Natalie is also part of MouldEd Theatre Company currently piloting Pieces of a Painterat various platforms and venues in the South East.
Ray Hunwicks
Ray joined Bootworks in 2006 and works as performer, workshop leader, and assistant director. He is currently part of another (new) theatre collective; OvaPlay, based in London, and works freelance as a director, teacher and actor for a range of Film, TV and Theatre ventures. His credits include: Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Thunderbirds; TV – Family Tax credit advert, Nickelodeon advert, Wakey wakey, Voice over for EA Games Harry Potter and the Quiddich World Cup and in the Theatre, among other projects, Ray was in the original cast of The Beautiful Game.
Dan Kok
Daniel joined Bootworks in 2008 and is involved with devising, performing and pulling strings (literally). His main interests lie within devised theatre and new writing but also with the administration and organisation of a company. Alongside his association with Bootworks he is press officer for Aitherios Theatre Company, a new physical theatre collective, and has also been part of the audience development team for The Royal Court. Currently Daniel has worked at the Barbican Centre, and now with Beijing Experimental Theatre Company (while he learns Catonese!)
Andy Roberts
Andy first joined Bootworks in 2006 as a performer and workshop leader. Andy has attained a BA (Hons) in Performing Arts, as well as a MA in theatre collectives from Chichester University. Outside of Bootworks Andy is part of “Playing Possum theatre” who have performed at Edinburgh (2008) and the BAC (2008) and are currently scratching their new site specific performance letters (2009) around the UK. Andy is also part of “Pinchmil theatre” who have performed there devised piece Can you eat baked beans forever (2009) in venues around the south.
Oliver Ryles: Sound Engineer and Composer/Performer
Olly has been involved with Bootworks since its inception. Trained as a Visual Artist and composer, Olly works as a freelance performer, sonic artist and teacher. Professional commissions include sound work for choreographers Jane Bacon, Vida Midgelow of the Choreographic Lab, and foreign bodies dance theatre, and numerous film and theatre projects with Robert Daniels. Current interests include computer-generated sound and music, live interaction between sound, movement and video in creation of interdisciplinary performance and quantum physics in relationship to music and performance.
Oliver is also a theatre technician and learning-support worker for students at UoN. Since graduating, his teaching experiences include National Diploma and BTEC modules in Computer Music and Sound Recording at Stafford College, and Northampton College, and degree level teaching for UoN
Joff Chafer
Our mentor and artistic consultant is Joff Chafer, founder of Bootworks, and inventor of the Black Box. From 1981 – 2000 Joff worked with Trestle Theatre Company as an actor, mask maker, co-writer and joint Artistic Director. With Trestle Joff has toured extensively nationally and internationally and collaborated with various companies including Kherson puppet theatre (Ukraine), Maybe Theatre (Poland), Sydney Theatre Company (Australia), Birmingham Contemporary Music Group with Sir Simon Rattle , Britten Symphonia , and Shakespeare’s Globe.
Joff is a Lecturer in Theatre, at the University of Coventry. Previously Joff has taught at Derby University, University of Northampton, De Montfort University (Melton Campus), Manchester Metropolitan University and Loughborough University. He has trained with John Wright, Phillipe Gaulier, Monika Pagneux, Mladen Materic and Els Comediants and regularly teaches at all levels in this country and abroad. Career highlights include directing at Sydney Opera House and lowlights include being struck by lightning during an open-air performance in Elstree.
We call him ‘Boss’ or ‘God’. This is because he is.