Hansel and Gretel

Katie is a writer/actor originally from Bridgend, South Wales. After graduating from RWCMD in 2010, she has performed in many UK and Wales productions including several at the Sherman including Crouch Touch Pause Engage and most recently playing the role of Cinderella in last's years Tales of the Brother's Grimm. Katie started writing in 2017 - after encouragement and support from companies such as Dirty Protest and Chippy Lane. Katie was a member of the Royal Court/NTW playwriting scheme in 2018 and through this wrote her first play Splinter - which was produced virtually during the pandemic by Far Away Plays. Her second piece Sprinkles was developed alongside Dirty Protest, and after several developments it is also being performed here in the studio this Christmas. Her first fully commissioned piece Celebrated Virgins was produced by Theatre Clwyd in 2022 - and picked as one of the "top ten shows of the year" by the telegraph. As a writer for screen, Katie was a member of BBC Welsh Voices 2022 and is currently working on her first screenplay. This is Katie's first work for young people, and one she is hugely excited by. Katie has spent many years working with children as a lead tutor, primary school teacher and arts therapist. Through the pandemic - Katie developed her own inclusive arts project for young people Create-a-space, and is currently part of developing a theatre company that promotes inclusive theatre for PMLD young people, alongside the charity Oshi's World. Katie is very passionate about making the arts exciting for young people. This work is inspired by the children and young people she currently works with in the Sherman's Youth Theatre, Introduction to Playwriting and various creative outreach projects. Katie would also like to dedicate this play to her four year old nephew Spencer Peach, who has been a huge fan of the Sherman's Christmas show for the past few years. She thanks him for his support in the writing of this project, giving particular thanks for the inspiration for a certain sugar loving squirrel, who she hopes you all enjoy.

Branwen is a playwright, theatre maker and dramaturg based in Cardiff. Branwen works in Welsh and English and is interested in creating bilingual work, translating and adapting theatre texts and finding new theatrical voices and narratives. She is a member of new writing company Dirty Protest and is Co-Director of Os Nad Nawr theatre company. Branwen has collaborated and worked with many companies in Wales including Theatr Clwyd (Fleabag - translator); Dirty Protest (Cut and Run - writer); Theatr Genedlaethol Cymru (Gwagle - writer; adar papur - director); Papertrail (A Night in the Clink - writer); Criw Brwd (Yn ei Blodau - director); Wales Millenium Centre (The Making of a Monster - dramaturg); Pontio (Lleisiau - writer/director); Marc Rees and National Dance Wales (PARADE - writer); The Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama (Mad Margot - translator); Volcano (Kate - writer); Sherman Theatre (A Midsummer Night's Dream - dramaturg; Hansel & Gretel - translator) and Illumine Theatre (Tremolo; Deuce - translator and dramaturg). Branwen was the Literary Manager at the Sherman Theatre responsible for developing new work and discovering and nurturing new voices. She is currently responsible for re-establishing the Urdd National Youth Theatre - Y Cwmni.

As Director for Sherman Theatre: A Midsummer Night’s Dream, A Hero of the People, A Christmas Carol, The Messenger, Crafangau / Claws.

As Co-Director for Sherman Theatre: Housemates (with Hijinx), Dance to the Bone

As Director: Woyzeck (The Old Vic); Incognito (Bush Theatre, Live Theatre and HighTide); Blink (Soho Theatre, Off-Broadway & nabokov); Bunny (Soho Theatre and Off Broadway); What I Learned from Johnny Bevan, Frankie Vah (Soho Theatre); The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas (Children’s Touring Partnership); The Taming of the Shrew, A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Shakespeare’s Globe and World Tour).

As Co-Director: No’s Knife (The Old Vic).

As Associate Director: Present Laughter, Girl from the North Country (The Old Vic); Wolf Hall (RSC); This House (National Theatre); Henry V (Shakespeare’s Globe); Ghost Stories (West End).

Joe was Artistic Director of Nabokov theatre company from 2010 to 2015, was Associate Director at Soho Theatre from 2012 to 2016 and was Associate Director at The Old Vic.

Alice (she/they) is a Theatre Director, Dramaturg and Creative Practitioner working predominantly on new writing in Wales and in the Welsh language. Alice is also founder of BolSHE and former Literary Associate of Sherman Theatre.

Sherman Theatre credits include: (As Director) BLOEDD, Stolen Stories, Sherman Writers Showcase, Heart of Cardiff; Bratiaith & See for Yourself, Sherman TEN; Y Rhyfelwraig & ZIP, (As Co-Director) Maryland, (As Associate Director) Tales of the Brothers Grimm, (As Assistant Director) A Night In The Clink (Papertrail Co-Production).

Other credits include: (As Director) Anthem (Wales Millennium Centre), (As Associate Director) Dan Y Wenallt/Under Milkwood (NYTW), Es And Flo (Wales Millennium Centre / The Kiln), (As Assistant Director) HELA, The Awkward Years (The Other Room).

For Sherman Theatre: Romeo and Julie (& National Theatre), Tales of the Brothers Grimm, A Christmas Carol, Alice in Wonderland, Iphigenia in Splott , Arabian Nights.

Theatre includes: Unbelievable (West End); The Boy with Two Hearts (Wales Millennium Centre / National Theatre); Blood Harmony (ThickSkin); Macbeth, Hamlet, Road (Leeds Playhouse); Gin Craze (Royal & Derngate Theatre / China Plate / English Touring Theatre); Oliver Twist (Leeds Playhouse / Ramps on the Moon / UK Tour); As You Like It (Queens Theatre, Hornchurch / National Theatre); A Christmas Carol (Hull Truck); Double Vision (Wales Millennium Centre); Romeo and Juliet (West Yorkshire Playhouse); Wonderman (Gagglebabble / National Theatre of Wales / Wales Millennium Centre); Made In Dagenham (Queens Theatre, Hornchurch / New Wolsey Theatre, Ipswich); The Tale of Mr Tumble (Manchester International Festival); Little Sure Shot (Theatre Royal, Bath / West Yorkshire Playhouse / Tour); Caucasian Chalk Circle, Britain’s Best Recruiting Officer (Unicorn Theatre); All My Sons, The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, Wind in the Willows, Of Mice and Men (Watermill Theatre); A Taste of Honey (Hull Truck / Derby Theatre); Wanted! Robin Hood (Manchester Library Theatre); Arabian Nights, All The Way Home (Manchester Library Theatre); Cooking With Elvis (Derby Theatre); Fantastic Mr Fox (Singapore Repertory Theatre); The Ballroom of Joys and Sorrows (Kate Flatt Productions / Watford Palace Theatre); Heidi, The French Detective and The Blue Dog, Around the World in Eighty Days, The Nutcracker, Animal Farm (Theatre Royal, Bath); Mongrel Island, The Boy Who Fell Into A Book (Soho Theatre); Little Voice, Peter Pan (The Dukes, Lancaster); Muscle (Bristol Old Vic / Hull Truck); God In Ruins (Royal Shakespeare Company).

For Sherman Theatre: Imrie (and Frân Wen), Y Coblynnod a'r Crydd / The Elves and the Shoemaker, Yr Hwyaden Fach Hyll / The Ugly Duckling, Fel Anifail, Hunting of the Snark (and RGM Productions).

Theatre includes: Private Lives, Of Mice and Men, Carwyn, Cinderella (Torch Theatre); Popeth ar y Ddaear, Croendena, Ynys Alys, Fawst, Llyfr Glas Nebo, Anweledig, Mwgsi (Frân Wen); Snow Queen (Chester Storyhouse); Rhinoseros, Gwlad Yr Asyn, Fawst, X, Nyrsys, Y Tad, Merch yr Eog, Blodeuwedd, Rhith Gan (Theatr Genedlaethol Cymru); Owl, Hoof (Theatr Iolo); Crash Test, Meet Fred (Hijinx Theatre); Mission Control, Tide Whisperer, Roald Dahl City of the Unexpected, Lifted by Beauty (National Theatre Wales); Mags (Cwmni Pluen); Woman of Flowers (Theatr Pena); BOHO (Theatr Clwyd / Hijinx Theatre).

For Sherman Theatre: Musical Director for Peter Pan.

Composer credits include: Golygfeydd o’r Pla Du (Theatrau Sir Gâr); Celebrated Virgins (Theatr Clwyd); Rhyfeloedd y ‘Rona (Academi Leeway / Leeway Productions); Santa’s Caravan, a Christmas charity single to raise funds for North Wales Superkids.

Musical Director credits include: Golygfeydd o’r Pla Du (Theatrau Sir Gâr).

Josh is a Cardiff based sound designer / engineer, production sound engineer and composer. Primarily working in theatre, he has designed for Flight Of The Phoenix (Elaha Soroor / WMC), Queerway (Leeway Productions), The Not So Fun House (Mess Up The Mess), Miss Littlewood (WAVDA - University of Wales Trinity Saint David), Grandmother's Closet (Luke Hereford / Wales Milennium Centre), A New Brain (WAVDA), Dance To The Bone (Sherman Theatre), Godspell (WAVDA), Fosse (WAVDA), Forgetting Heledd (Rhys J. Edwards / RADA), Crave (The Other Room / Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama), Cardiff Boy (Red Oak Theatre / The Other Room), Vincent River (No Boundaries), Dames (Siberian Lights), Where Do Little Birds Go? (No Boundaries), Llais/Voice (Cwmni Pluen / Sherman Theatre). Sound engineering and production sound engineering highlights include Romeo & Julie (National Theatre / Sherman Theatre), The Boy With Two Hearts (National Theatre / Wales Millennium Centre), Kidstown (National Theatre Wales), Es & Flo (Wales Millenium Centre), Joseph K & The Cost Of Living (NTW), XXXmas Carol (Big Loop Theatre / Wales Millennium Centre), Claws / Crafangau (Sherman Theatre), Lovecraft [Not The Sex Shop In Cardiff] (Carys Eleri / Wales Millennium Centre), Alice In Wonderland (Sherman Theatre). Josh also works as a live sound recordist and mixer, with recent projects including Queerway, 10 Minute Musicals (Leeway Productions), Codi, Wild Thoughts (National Dance Company Wales), and various projects for Horizons / Gorwelion (BBC Radio Wales).