Barber B: Each One Teach One
Writer, director, actor, producer.
‘Barber B: Each One Teach One’ intertwined storytelling, dance, and archival material to bring Leeds legend, Barber B's incredible journey to life. Written after Brian’s death and perfomed with his brother Paul and sister Cheryl, the show opened to a sell-out audience at The Riley Theatre in the Northern School of Contemporary Dance.
‘Each One Teach One’ is the thrilling sequel to ‘A Play of Sorts’, which Brian and I spent the last year and a half of his life creating. ‘Barber B: Each One Teach One’ explores Barber B’s mixed heritage identity, recounts him cutting hair in gay clubs (whilst high) and talks about his phenomenal transition from being overweight to “having a body like a Greek god”.
This evening was a captivating tribute to resilience, community, and the transformative power of a dream.
Created in collaboration with Northern School of Contempary Dance, Emma and Dawn Collabs and Space 2.
Copywriter - Network Rail (2023)
A campaign video for the East Coast Digital Programme about ED&I created for MOTIV PRODUCTIONS.
Barber B: A Play of Sorts (2022/2023)
Writer, director, actor.
A Play of Sorts is inspired by the extraordinary life of Chapeltown barber, Brian Swarray, aka Barber B, whose haircuts were not just iconic, but raised the profession to an artform.
Having secured funding from The World Reimagined and received a unanimous decision of support from Leeds City Council, we created the APOS as Brian battled with a brain tumor. Brian and I found ways of working around his condition, that meant he could share his story with over 700 people on stage!
Every performance sold out.
"A unique cultural experience. A Play of Sorts is brilliantly conceived and beautifully and intuitively executed. Barber B is a natural performer. The shift of emotional states is really powerful. We need to see more like this. This is brave and real!"
– Pam Johnson
Head of Culture Programmes Leeds City Council
– Pam Johnson
Head of Culture Programmes Leeds City Council
“A really powerful performance that gave a glimpse of the extraordinary life of a true Leeds legend. Getting to enjoy the storytelling alongside live barbering gave the piece a real immediacy and vitality. I really wanted to hear more.”
– Alex Ferris
Associate Director, Creative Engagement
Leeds Playhouse
– Alex Ferris
Associate Director, Creative Engagement
Leeds Playhouse
“Barber, I can’t thank you enough for opening up and sharing your stories with us. The delivery was assured, sincere and genuinely heart-warming. I wish you all the luck with the project.”
– Matt Francomb
Sommelier
– Matt Francomb
Sommelier
Copywriter - The World Reimagined (2022)
I wrote, researched and edited 100 of these short factual stories, adhering to the style guide and making the stories engaging for the target audience.