Jon Oram - Artistic Director
Jon Oram is an internationally known leader in the field of Community Plays. He left school, joined a circus and then trained as a Teacher at Froebel, Roehampton, specialising in Educational Drama and is a Licentiate of the Royal Academy of Music and Drama (L.R.A.M). He taught for a number of years whilst training as a Mime and actor Improviser. As a Mime he trained with Marcel Marceau, Desmond Jones, in improvisation with Theatre Machine and Keith Johnstone. He travelled the world both with his one-man shows and theatre teaching. Jon has been an educational drama advisor for Norfolk, Director of Community Arts, Norwich Arts Centre 1980, and founder of Clowns Mime Theatre and Tie Break now East Anglia’s leading theatre in Education Company. He was Theatre Animator for South West Arts and a member of the Regional Arts Theatre Panel before became Artistic Director Colway Theatre Trust in 1985 and, in that time, has developed the work extensively especially in area of the issue based play, developing the concept of the Social Actor. His reputation and experience in Community Plays is without parallel. He has directed or written 30 community plays throughout the length and breadth of Britain, and introduced the concept of community plays to The United States, Canada and Finland. In 2008 Jon was presented with the Otto Award in New York for his contribution to political theatre.
Contact Jon here or call 01892 537034
Liz is a marketing, business development and research professional with experience in the community and corporate sectors. She left university in 2002 with a media degree and spent the following two years in Brighton working on outdoor festival marketing and event logistics. Later she gained a teaching qualification and spent the following two years living and working in Tibet. By 2007, Liz was back in the UK and helping develop the business of a professional services firm. After being part of the Camden Road community play, her attention was turned back to the creative arts and she came to work for Claque. Her job is to run the day-to-day company business from ordering paper clips to updating the website. With her skills in bid writing, Liz is also contributing to grant and funding proposals on behalf of our community plays. She is always seeking opportunities to share, develop and advocate Claque's work and welcomes invitations to chat over coffee!Liz Carter - Company Manager
Nina Ayres – Associate Designer
Nina Ayres was winner of East Sussex County Council Arts Award for set design in 1995. 1st class BA Hons Degree, Theatre Design, Central School of Speech and Drama.1997 and was selected to represent UK in World Theatre Festival, Amsterdam. Nina works in theatre, television and film on set, costume, prop and puppetry design and construction. She has worked with diverse range of companies and an eclectic mix of projects including the imagine festival for Royal Festival Hall, Greencandle Dance Company, The Royal Ballet, The National Theatre, West Yorkshire Playhouse and Shakespeare’s Globe. Her television work has included Channel 4’s Skins and BBC’s Waking the Dead and League of Gentlemen. She has worked regularly with Claque Theatre on community plays, parades and installations including the International Festival of the Sea; Portsmouth Docks Christmas Festival and community plays in Shaftesbury, Isle of Sheppey and Groombridge. Nina designed Claque’s last production The Vanishing Elephant. Nina’s book Creating Outdoor Theatre is a must read practical guide for anyone interested in outdoor performance and is available through at www.ninaayres.com
For all further information, please visit the website or call her on 07980 921146.