The Puppet Parade is for EVERYONE!

Catherine's first professional work was in Theatre in Education at Colchester Mercury Theatre, Essex aged 16. At 21, She created Lucy Lollipops Puppet Theatre touring her puppetry work around Essex, England.

Originally from London, Catherine gained an Honours degree in Performing Arts in 1995 and due to her work in puppetry became known for her skills in managing large audience groups, her ability to direct plays and her creative ideas for storytelling eventually becoming Head of Drama in one of the most challenging high schools in England. Undertaking musicals, Shakespeare plays and festival theatre she was also Teacher in charge of Traveller children, exemplary in behaviour management delivering her classes with a philosophy of 'giving respect gains respect'.

Emigrated in 2009 to Queensland, Australia and founded Queensland School of Performing Arts an actor training school for young people in Nambour producing up to 10 productions per year of published and original work.

QSPA produced the very first Young people's Shakespeare Festival on the Sunshine Coast.

She also formed the very first youth theatres in Nambour, Maleny, Glasshouse, Beerwah, Bli Bli and Mapleton.

In 2017 Catherine gained a Masters in Performing Arts at University of The Sunshine Coast.

Her skill set is a variety of specialist theatre subjects such as Viewpoints, Introducing Shakespeare to those new to his works, Mask, Commedia Dell Arte, Theatre of The Oppressed, Circus Skills.

In her theatre company she is ensemble leader creating supportive, egoless groups to produce intensive, challenging productions. The company uses Barestage Theatre to focus on acting and building confidence in actors. Minimal costume, no lights or elaborate staging ensures that the young actor focuses on character and acting skills gaining confidence for later work in traditional theatre or life in general.

She has directed over 45 productions and written over 25 plays.

Catherine created Little Big World Puppet Company in 2020 and is a master of puppet making and offers workshops in the community. She makes all manner of puppets from Bunraku, tabletop, shadow, large structures and runs workshops in Suitcase Theatre, Crankie making and longer workshops enabling children to make puppets for parades to family and friends.

She also runs a Shakespeare and Commedia company named Bawdy Codpiece Theatre Company offering Masters level training to an ensemble of 15.

An interesting career of puppetry, school teaching, theatre writing and directing, her work is affordable from teaching drama, to running workshops and teaching piano and drums.

Her core belief is that everyone should be able to enjoy the world of theatre and performing.