Ever since I was eight years old I’ve been ‘making stuff’, whether it was writing short stories, silly plays or films. I’ve been working predominately in Theatre since 2010 where I have directed & produced more than a dozen plays. Particular plays I’m proud of were the plays for charity such as The Vagina Monologues (for V-DAY 2011), Queer Macbeth (Terrance Higgins Trust) & A Night Against Putin (Amnesty International) (Both 2013) but also a triptych of plays for Black History Month as well as a string of Shakespeare adaptations; Hamlet (2010) The Tempest (2012) and Romeo & Juliet: A Plunderphonica (2014). I have also worked with The Young Vic Director’s Network, The Soho Theatre Young Company and The National Theatre of Wales on various research and development projects.

Over the last three years, with co-writer Scott Payne, I’ve acted and toured in a one-man show called Is He A Bit Simon Jay? Which we took to the Edinburgh Fringe in 2014.

Having been openly gay since I was 14, I attend Pride events every year and have volunteered for Stonewall, assisting with their equality walk in Brighton in 2013. I feel it is important to show the world, that there are people happy with being gay and not phased with opposition but also to provide hope for people who struggle or are in positions or places where being gay is ‘criminal’ or they will be persecuted for it, whether it’s in their home, village or school in any continent.

I also have a history of Mental Health Problems that I have spoken and written about, most recently for a talk at Bar Wotever’s Talks at The Royal Vauxhall Tavern. For much the same reason as being openly gay. Showing solidarity by talking about one’s own experiences of mental health hopefully will help others.

My first book, a memoir entitled ‘Bastardography’ about growing up gay, mental and creative is out in March 2015.