Half a String uses puppetry, design and original music to craft fantastical human stories that are grounded in live performance. We tour theatre, publish books and work with people of all ages to unleash creativity. Our community of artists explore ideas to create accessible, intelligent and astonishing work that champions meaningful collective experiences.
MEET THE TEAM
- Artistic Director -
Peter is a designer and director who specialises in creating powerful stories and striking design that comes to life on stage. He specialises in intricate, detailed puppet design and likes to bring objects to life. His design work uses a variety of materials and is often challenging and complex. His set design strives to move and transform, hiding secrets, and enthralling audiences. As artistic director of Half a String he strives to find honest fantastical stories that capture and touch the hearts of audiences.
www.peter-morton.co.uk |
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Robin Hatcher
- Tour Booker & Associate Producer - Robin is an experienced producer, performer and writer, specialising in comedy and family performance. He joined the Half a String team in 2016 and has worked on every project the company has produced since in the role of tour booker and producer. Alongside this, he works as joint artistic director of the Noise Next Door, the UKs leading improvised comedy troupe, and works as a bid writer and producer for companies including Moonbeam Theatre and Spun Glass Theatre. Robin is really excited to be continuing to work with Half a String, bringing beautiful puppetry performance to audiences across the country.
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Emma Willatts
- Dramaturg & Director - Emma Willatts is an experienced theatre director, dramaturg and practitioner, based in Kent. Emma’s passion is in finding solutions to creative problems and all of her roles are underpinned by a love of sharing stories. Emma has worked as a director and/or dramaturg on A Heart At Sea, Boulder, Under The Frozen Moon, Seedling, Puppet Van and Breathe, and has loved working alongside Pete and the performers to develop the style of Half A String. Outside of her work with this company, she can be found based at Gulbenkian as the Creative Engagement Practitioner, where she also runs the youth companies, who have developed a strong reputation for creating high quality work, including twice being invited to transfer their show to the National Theatre. She has recently produced a short film for BBC Arts New Creatives.
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Emily Azouelos
- Outreach & Facilitation Lead - Emily Azouelos is an experienced primary teacher and senior leader who has worked in a variety of London schools, placing creativity and partnership work at the heart of her teaching practice. She made the move to the world of heritage and arts based organisations two years ago and creates educational related content for a variety of settings.
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Darcey O'Rourke
- Marketing Assistant & Performer - Darcey is an actor, singer, musician, facilitator and writer. Darcey first worked with Half a String in 2022 as a performer and has since been in multiple productions including Under the Frozen Moon, Breathe and The Snowsmith. She has also taken on additional roles in Half a String in marketing and social media. Darcey also works as a facilitator for several youth organisations in London.
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ASSOCIATE ARTISTS
Louisa Ashton
Writer & Performer Louisa is a puppeteer and writer based in Manchester who specialises in highly visual devised theatre. |
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Amelia Gabriel
Singer/Songwriter & Performer Amelia is an actor, folk musician and songwriter from the Kent/East Sussex border. |
Nicholas HalliwellPuppeteer & Performer
Nicholas is a performer, puppeteer, and collaborator based in Edinburgh. His specialty is in Bunraku-style puppetry as well as harness and large-scale puppeteering. |
Avi Simmons
Singer/Songwriter & Performer Avi Simmons is a singer-songwriter and performer based in Canterbury, Kent. |
Greg Stobbs
Illustrator Greg Stobbs is an illustrator, street artist and visual development artist from the South East, with an overactive imagination. |
Suitman Jungle
Musician Suitman Jungle is a survival manual for those who live in a capitalist society, expressed via drum and bass. |
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THE BOARD
Emma Willatts
Emma Willatts is an experienced theatre director, dramaturg and practitioner, based in Kent. Outside of her work as dramaturg/ director for Half a String, she can be found based at Gulbenkian as the Creative Engagement Practitioner, where she also runs the youth companies, who have developed a strong reputation for creating high quality work. |
Rachel Arkell
Rachel is a socio-legal researcher, with a background in Medical Law and Ethics. She is currently completing her PhD at the University of Kent, Canterbury, and works as a Research and Projects Officer at the Centre of Reproductive Research and Communication, at the British Pregnancy Advisory Service. Her current research focuses on social and policy regulation of behaviour during pregnancy. |
Oliver Double
Olly is currently Head of the School of Arts at the University of Kent. He teaches and researches alternative comedy, stand-up, and variety theatre, and has written numerous books and articles about comic and popular performance. Before becoming an academic, he worked as a stand-up comedian on the national comedy circuit, and still keeps his hand in as compere for the Gulbenkian Arts Centre’s monthly comedy night, Funny Rabbit. |
Kimberley Sanders
Kimberley Sanders is a dedicated and experienced arts professional, currently serving as Programme Manager at the Marlowe Theatre in Canterbury, one of the UK’s leading regional theatres. With a strong background in programming, artist development and community engagement, Kimberley is passionate about bringing innovative theatre to the community. |
Liz Moran - Advisor to the Board
Liz is currently Creative Director of Playground which engages the very young and their families with innovative and inspiring creative activity. Prior to her current role she was Director of Arts and Culture at the University of Kent. During her time there she initiated ART31, a project aiming to creatively empower young people, bOing! International Family Festival and also worked to set up the Institute of Cultural and Creative Industries. |
Peter Morton - Company Secretary
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Registered as a company limited by guarantee, company number: 13890068
COMPANY POLICIES
Please see below to read our Half a String company Equality and Diversity policy and our Environmental policy.
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Contact
For general enquiries please email us here:
[email protected]
For touring enquiries please email:
[email protected]
Supported and Funded by:
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