about Lydia.

Hey folks,

I've included a wee bit of info about me here in case we haven't met yet. Feel free to browse or scroll down to explore different aspects of my practice.

I call myself a theatre-maker because that term best encapsulates the diverse range of work I am passionate about. More specifically, I am currently focused on directing, writing, and co-creation.

I'm originally from Newcastle and spend my time between my home in Glasgow and my base in the North East of England. I'm a graduate of the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance, and Newcastle College.

I am a lecturer at The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. I enjoy creating new work and empowering others to explore their creativity — I do this through my teaching and co-creation work with people of all ages. I'm neurodiverse and find that this both helps creativity and problem-solving. And I find being open about this allows me to connect with all of my students. There is no better feeling than guiding a group through the creative process and seeing them develop their voices alongside new skills.

I am currently working on a new play called The Curve with The Ayr Gaiety. Two new musicals with Filip Holacky. Cracked, which we shared at Capital Theatres, Open Floor Musical Scratch Night and is being funded through a research and development phase by RCS Innovation Studio. And Kaleidoscope Revolution, a musical for young people that we workshoped this summer with RCS.

I co-founded and ran Fearless Players for 5 years with Shonagh Murray. With them, I wrote a one-woman show, Confessions of a Child Star, which has played in venues across Glasgow, as well as the Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2018. I also produced the sell-out, 5-star show Armour: A Herstory of the Scottish Bard (Edinburgh Fringe 2018 and 2019) and the 5-star show Burns: A Lost Legacy (Edinburgh Fringe 2019).​ I co-wrote and directed Saturdays Doon the J.M., a Musical film created for Dundee Rep starring Annie Ross and Barrie Hunter. I co-wrote The Great Elf Escape: Live for The Gaiety, which was an online, interactive musical - no small feat!

I worked in South Korea with English Musicals Korea, where I wrote Treasure Island and Fun Fest. This was a dream job where I was able to create new musicals from scratch every day and be involved in every aspect, from initial concept to marketing materials, writing, directing, and designing sets and costumes. We worked as a team to create fully realised shows that were seen by huge audiences. And living around the corner from Seoul wasn't bad either!

But most importantly, I have two dogs, Kevin and Cubby, who are the loves (and terrors) of my life. And in my spare time, I make stained glass and will get super invested in any new craft presented to me, so let me know your fav. I also love a good board game.

Well, that's about it for the highlights. If there's anything else you'd like to know, please send me a message!​​