Directing - Dramaturgy
Memories of Partition
Director of new monologues by South Asian writers, commissioned by the Royal Exchange Theatre.
Director, Producer and Theatre Maker
Based in Manchester, I have directed, produced, taught, created and performed theatre for almost 20 years, working with and for venues including; The Royal Exchange, The Lowry, HOME, Contact, West Yorkshire Playhouse, Theatre in the Mill, Nottingham Playhouse, Camden People's Theatre and The Albany. My approach to directing and performance is rooted in my experience and training as a professional actor, and I teach and direct acting and performance at colleges and Universities.
As a theatre maker, I work collaboratively; writing and devising with a growing pool of artists and professional specialists. We often research politically and socially conscious subjects, asking challenging questions and exploring unconventional themes to create unique, compelling and highly acclaimed original theatre. Our work is often underpinned by images and video, complex sound design or live music, and can include elements of physical theatre, comedy and clown.
Current Work
Same Same Different
'Adoption isn't the end of the story but the start of a whole new life!'
Producing the Northern tour of Same Same Different by Naomi Sumner Chan for Spring 2019.
Inspired by Naomi’s own experiences as a Trans-racial adoptee, being adopted from Hong Kong in the 1980s into a White British family. This new hour long verbatim play gives adoptees from all over the world the opportunity to share their adoption story in their own words and reveal what it’s like to grow up in a family and community who might look very different to themselves. The focus of the piece is what the contributors perceive as the similarities and differences between themselves and their family members and how both nature and nurture influence identity.
FOR BOOKING ENQUIRIES PLEASE EMAIL: benpower (at) live.co.uk
The Wasp
Directing the Northern premiere of The Wasp, by Morgan Lloyd Malcolm, for The Theatre Collective. Part of
TOURING AUTUMN 2019 - DETAILS COMING SOON
Past
Directing - Dramaturgy - Producing
Spring Reign
Originator, Director and Producer for National Tour of a new play about Syrian conflict.
Devising - Directing - Writing
Becoming
R+D project exploring contemporary parenting, in collaboration with comedy writer/performer, Liz Richardson, supported by HOME.
Directing - Dramaturgy - Producing
War Stories
Director, Dramaturg and Co-Producer of internationally co-commissioned new play about the First World War.
Devising - Directing - Dramaturgy - Producing
Dr. Doctor and The Bird of Paradise
Director in development for Garth Williams solo show about madness, psychiatry and R.D.Laing's radical clinical evolution.
Devising - Directing - Producing - Writing
Real Life
Director, Co-Writer and Producer of solo comedy theatre show for The Royal Exchange Studio
Directing - Producing
The Bubbler
Director of Cathy Crabb's critically acclaimed play - for Re:Play at The Lowry and a Northern Tour
Devising - Directing - Dramaturgy
#Handles
University of Salford - BA Theatre and Performing: Public Performance Project
Devising - Directing
Unhinged
A 'work in development' for Jackson's Lane Theatre, Highgate, London
Acting - Directing
Verbally Challenged
Contact Manchester's new writing showcase
Directing - Producing
Temp/Casual
Originally directed and produced for the 24:7 Festival, then developed for a full production at Contact
Acting - Producing
Marge
A collaboration with Made-Up Theatre, touring the North West
Acting - Directing - Producing
Two
North West tour with my first company, Something Wicked
Get in touch
If you are looking for a director, producer or collaborator and want to discuss or propose a project, please contact me on the number below, or using the contact form.
mobile: 07967-583-749