I’ve been working on a new project about climate change (sounds awful but I think it’s going to be good 🤞). The research I’ve done, and the research I’m poised to do, is jet fuel for my creative process.

Today I wanted to share the beauty of research with you. Where it’s been a part of my work, how I conduct it, what the pitfalls are and why I recommend it so highly.

“By creating work for my own personal purposes, I end up creating work that makes space for other boys who have been made fun out of for being their own kind of boy.”

Troy Cabida is a poet and freelance creative producer based in London, from Las Piñas City, Metro Manila.

I asked Troy some questions!

The Ex-Boyfriend Yard Sale, my debut memoir, has been out in the UK for a few weeks now (available here!).

I wanted to share with you the nuts and bolts of how I tackled writing a book, literally how I attacked the towering task of generating all the material and finishing the book.

I've been reflecting on the power of throwing our own parties.

In a sense this goes along with the philosophy that we are responsible for our own happiness AND with my belief that if you can’t get in the front door, build your own house! How did I get to thinking about this?

Gabriel Akamo is an actor, poet, educator and sometimes creative producer and dramaturg, based in North London.

I asked Gabriel some questions!

Shereen Jasmin Phillips graduated from Royal Central School of Speech and Drama in 2010 with a degree in Drama, Applied Theatre and Education. She has worked in the artistic and creative learning departments of a variety of London Theatre's working with community groups of all ages for over ten years.

A couple weeks back, my debut memoir ‘The Ex-Boyfriend Yard Sale’ hit the shelves in book stores all across the UK. So, let’s talk about how I ended up being a person who has published a book!

The idea that incited all of this came to me while I was on the phone with my credit card company.

Amina Koroma is an actor, voiceover artist & writer based in London, UK.

She trained as part of National Youth Theatre (2019) & Theatre Peckham REP Company (2020). Her goal is to be “recurring characters on hit UK/ US series, voice in Netflix original animations, anime simul-dubs and animated films, and feature in AAA games with voice and motion capture…”

I asked Amina some questions!

Last week I shared a story that began in 2006, all about assuming another artist thought I was a hack.

Today I’m diving into the vaults again to share another paradigm-shifting experience. In 2011, ten years ago, I was invited to be part of the Tarragon Theatre’s playwrights’ unit – a yearlong programme run by Toronto’s “playwright’s theatre”.

Arji Manuelpillai is a poet, performer and creative facilitator based in London. For over 15 years Arji has worked with community arts projects nationally and internationally.

Recently, he was the Jerwood Arvon Mentee mentored by Hannah Lowe. His poetry has been published in magazines including Cannon’s Mouth, Strix, The Rialto and Bath Magg.

In 2006, in my final year of theatre school, I was cast in a lead role in one of our big shows.

I was so excited, but on our first day of rehearsal, when our director asked us to improvise the show, scene by scene, it quickly became evident that my classmates and I were grossly underprepared.

Kate Kamo McHugh is a dancer, actor, arts educator and mom to Isabel. She studied Theatre Performance and Dance at Ryerson University in Toronto and is now based in Kitchener, Ontario. I asked Kate some questions!

Abigail Sewell is a film and theatre director. She is Co-Founder and Artistic Director of Uproot Productions, a socially driven cross-arts production company with the mission of supporting Black artists. Her work centres Black joy and is driven by the transformative power of storytelling.

My Mum, Donna Penrose turned 70 a few weeks ago.

I genuinely lucked out with her. Or, if you go in for the idea that we choose our parents before we’re born, holy sh*t did I choose well.

In honour of her seven decades on this planet, I’m sharing 10 extremely useful life lessons she’s taught me by example…

Charity Muiruri is an actor, filmmaker, freelance creative and Co-founder of The Basement Bunch (with Adeyinka Akinrinade and Hannah Kelly), based in Luton.

I asked Charity some questions!

I’m back in the fray with my new solo show, Age is a Feeling. I got a commission from Soho Theatre – such a dream, especially after literally trying to get them to notice me since 2016.

Every couple weeks I meet with their associate director Adam. He’s a great dramaturge and director and he’s working with me as an outside eye and frankly, accountability buddy. I share the material I’ve been working on and we talk about what I should focus before our next meeting.

Holly Khan is a half Guyanese half British multi-instrumentalist, composer and music facilitator, based in London. She works first and foremost for, by and with communities.

As a facilitator, she works with award winning charities and arts organisations for individuals and groups at all stages of life, with a particular focus on engaging with vulnerable members of the community…

I heard an apocryphal tale from a fellow writer, that when Ottessa Moshfegh, author of My Year of Rest and Relaxation, was broke and wanted to write a book that would make her money, she purchased a book about writing books and followed its method. That book, Eileen, won the Man Booker Prize.

Nina Bowers is an actor & theatre maker, now based in London & raised in Ottowa, Canada.

”I make plays and things mostly related to escapism rooted in afrofuturist ideas and aesthetics. I spend the day writing, researching, and procrastinating.”

The saving grace for me right now is the good weather in London.

Daffodils and crocuses have pushed through the earth. We've got daylight beyond until almost 8pm. And the temperature is above 10 degrees.

Sorry to open with a paragraph on the weather, but really it's having a HUGE impact on my mood.

Theatre animals, performers, creators of live performance I’m talking to YOU.

Do you feel frustrated because while you’ve got the artistic skills, ideas and desire to share your work with audiences and earn money for your art, you find yourself totally flummoxed as to how to make it happen?

Helena Almeida is a Sound Designer & Location Recordist based in London UK, originally from Lisbon, Portugal. She studied at Goldsmiths and is inspired by a range of multidisciplinary artists and forms.

I asked her some questions!

I get emailed frequently from artists grappling with IMPOSTER SYNDROME and how to overcome it so they move into the careers and lives they desire.

Gboyega Odubanjo is a poet and Creative Writing PhD student at the University of Hertfordshire, now based in Dagenham in London, UK.

I asked him some questions!

Let's talk about how depressing this time of year is. Good grief.

I've been reflecting on what I know I can do to keep my spirits up.

If you're struggling with malaise or glumness these days, here's a grab bag of tools that work for me.

Janisè Sadik is an actor, director and creative facilitator currently based in South East London, with a rich portfolio of work.

I asked Janisè some questions!