About Us

Doorstep Arts is a non-profit arts education organisation based in Torbay. We run 14 drama groups across Torbay at key doorstep sites – youth clubs, church halls and schools. We are also the creative education company in residence at the Palace Theatre, Paignton.

The young people who attend these groups range in age from 0-25. They write their own stories and songs, and they explore original ideas through drama process, play, and imagination. The groups provide safe educational spaces to experiment with what it means to be an artist and to explore your own voice.

We believe that we all make the story happen – that participation in the arts is a key part of working for social justice. We believe that all children’s voices and stories matter and deserve to be listened to. Doorstep Arts believes that all children deserve to be able to access high quality participatory arts and to see (and make) amazing and inspiring work on their own doorsteps.

All of Doorstep’s work is educational practice as action research. This research is exploring pedagogy, performance and praxis with young people as co-researchers. Our research and practice is conducted through five key inter-connected strands of work. Read more about our key strands & vision here .

Meet the Team

Jade Campbell

Doorstep Co-Director & Co-Founder

Jade is a Brixham-local, a Dartington graduate and holds an MA in Applied Theatre from the University of Exeter. Jade also works for Theatre Royal Plymouth and teaches for the University of Plymouth. Jade co-parents the Participation & Progression strands of our work, which includes our participatory groups and Foot in the Door mentorship scheme.

jade@doorsteparts.co.uk

Erin Walcon

Doorstep Co-Director & Co-Founder

Erin is a Paignton-based director, writer and educator with a PhD in Applied Theatre. She lectures at the University of Exeter drama department & in the Graduate School of Education. Erin co-parents the Stories from Scratch strand of our work, which includes mentorship of young emerging artists & facilitators.

erin@doorsteparts.co.uk

Meghan Searle

Doorstep Co-Director & Co-Founder

Meg graduated from Central School of Speech and Drama as a drama teacher, specialising in voice and music. Meg has over 20 years experience working with children and young people in the arts. Still part of the core Doorstep team, Meg is now based near Bath and serves in a strategic role, leading on particular projects.

meg@doorsteparts.co.uk

Nathalie Palin

Co-Parent & Lead Artist

Nat joined the team in 2016, and since that time has been a core part of Doorstep’s strategic visioning team as well as serving as a visual arts mentor on a variety of projects. Nat is the co-parent of our Dialogue project strand, coordinates our digital strategy and is the lead grant-writer for Doorstep.

nathalie@doorsteparts.co.uk

Polly Ferguson-Carruthers

Co-Parent & Lead Artist, Doorstep Studio Courses (DAS)

Polly is the musical theatre specialist for Doorstep, serving as the coordinator and Lead Artist for all of the DAS (Studio Courses). She lectured at NW Kent College, and is a Dartington graduate, where she specialised in Balinese puppetry and dance. Polly co-parents the Open Doors outreach programme, focusing on primary schools.

polly@doorsteparts.co.uk

Mair George

Co-Parent & Lead Producer

Mair co-parents our Platform strand of work, which includes producing the Doorstep Theatre Festival. She also takes a lead on all production-focused mentorship for young emerging artists.

mair@doorsteparts.co.uk

Charlotte Rae

Administrator & Finance

Charlotte is the best port of call for any general queries. She is the person in charge of all finances, payments and invoices, and also handles general office administration several days a week. Contact Charlotte with a general enquiry.

Associate Artists

Doorstep works with a regular team of wonderful associate artists, many of whom run their own organisations and wear many hats. Just a few of these incredible people who we are lucky enough to regularly team with are:

Hugh Nankivell, composer & musician (Shared Inventions)

Steve Sowden, musician & film-maker (Shared Inventions)

Pip Jones, dancer and Early Years specialist (Skylarker)

Kate Graham, musician & songwriter (Soundlaunch)

Josh Lucas, theatre-maker supporting DYT (Running Dog Theatre Company)

Michael Smith, actor, writer, facilitator (PaddleBoat Theatre Company)

Michael O’Shea, breakdancer (Just 4 Funk & Torbay Breaking)

Rebecca Dobson, theatre-maker & facilitator

Heidi Ruskin, musician, pianist and musical theatre specialist (DAS courses)

Foot in the Door Assistants

Doorstep runs a year-round mentorship programme, Foot in the Door, which provides support, resource, and training for emerging artists in Torbay.

Our Foot in the Door Assistants for Summer Term 2019 are:

Hollie Uzzell, Story Makers & Saturday Drop-Ins

Lucia Moussalli, Saturday Drop-Ins

Vicky Sparks, Doorstep Arts Studio Courses

Lauren Pomfret, Doorstep Arts Studio Courses