ANDREW MUIR

Creative Director / Writer / Director

Originally studied drama at Mountview Theatre School in London where he graduated with a 3 year Acting Diploma, Andrew has worked as an actor in London and the regions in work including; Six Degrees of Separation, Royal Court and West End; King Lear, Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester; Richard III, Pleasance Theatre, London. He has toured both the UK and Europe in various productions.

As a writer Andrew has had plays produced throughout the UK. His first, ANNIVERSARY SWEET was produced at the Finborough Theatre in London followed by his next play, PUSH which was produced at the Union Theatre where it was awarded ‘Critic’s Choice’. In 2009 he had plays produced simultaneously in New York and London:  GREEN GRASS was produced at the Union Theatre in London (“A luminous production” – Time Out); and GAUGLEPRIXTOWN, was produced by Studio 42 at The Kirk on Theatre Row, 42nd Street, New York. Andrew was commissioned to write DOUBLE SENTENCE for Deafinitely Theatre, which was produced at the Soho Theatre and most recently GOLD DUST for Black Country Touring, which was directed by Paula Garfield and was staged in Birmingham and the Black Country as well as a short run in the studio at Soho Theatre. In 2015, THE SESSION was produced at Soho Theatre and published by Methuen (http://www.bloomsbury.com/uk/the-session-9781474286855/) and most recently the play was part of a reading series on immigration stories at Inis Nua Theatre Company, Philadelphia. In 2016 was commissioned by site specific theatre company, Dante or Die, to write the text for a new piece of work set in a leisure centre – the result was TAKE ON ME which was produced Autumn 2016.

Andrew was shortlisted for the COLLABOR8TE Short Film Competition, as well as being invited to participate in the DOCTORS Shadow Scheme for the BBC.

Andrew was commissioned by BBC Radio 3 to write a play for the VERB, which was called A PERFECT NON STARTER.

Andrew is currently writer in residence at the Bournemouth and Poole College of Further Education where he writes and directs a new contemporary play for second year degree students as well as being mentor on the MA in playwriting at Central School of Speech and Drama.

Directing credits include; TWO at the Southwark Playhouse in October 2013.

Andrew has run various writing workshops for companies including, Soho Theatre, OId Vic New Voices, Deafinitely Theatre and Ransom Productions in Belfast and is currently running a ten-week writing course, PLAYWRITING FOR BEGINNERS, at the National Theatre.

PIECE OF MIND (Party Lines)
SACRIFICE (ARDENT8)
ARDENT THEATRE COMPANY

 

MARK SANDS

Creative Director

Mark Sands studied at the University of Warwick and trained at East 15 Acting School. He has worked as an actor, writer and producer for several years and after leaving drama school became one of the co-directors of the Angels Theatre Company, performing in THE FOOTBALLER'S WIFE (Riverside Studios) and COME DANCING (Old Red Lion Theatre). He also wrote and acted in two trilogy productions for the company: CELEBS (Old Red Lion Theatre) and HEADSTORMS (Etcetera Theatre). Additional acting credits include A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM (Duke of Yorks), DON JUAN (Southwark Playhouse), THE DANCE OF DEATH (White Bear), BOYFRIENDS (Channel 4) and BODY STORY (Wall to Wall TV Ltd).

In 2002, he became the Director of Development and Administration at Studio Theatre on the campus of North Westminster Community School, programming 3 seasons per year of drama, music and dance for a predominantly young audience. During this time he joined Deafinitely Theatre as a founding trustee and later was employed by the company to assist in its development. In 2006, he left Studio Theatre to commit full-time to Deafinitely Theatre as their General Manager, a role that developed into being Executive Director, where he stayed until September 2015. During this time, he produced work at Shakespeare’s Globe, Soho Theatre, Southwark Playhouse, Park Theatre and several national UK tours.

In 2009, he co-founded The Blueprint Theatre Company, where he acted in and jointly produced the critically acclaimed THIS STORY OF YOURS and WOMEN LAUGHING, both at the Old Red Lion Theatre, and produced  the 5 star production of FROZEN (Park Theatre) in 2015.

In 2014, Mark co-founded Ardent Theatre Company with Andrew Muir launching with a co-production of John Van Druten’s FLOWERS OF THE FOREST at Jermyn Street Theatre, gaining 5 star reviews and an extended run. In May 2015, Ardent produced PARTY LINES - an evening of 5 newly commissioned short plays written in response to the General Election – establishing a brand for the type of work we want to produce.

Mark continues to work as a freelance writer and producer, and is also part-time Finance Manager for Boundless Theatre.

ARDENT THEATRE COMPANY