Ruth Welch

Experience

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  Awkward Tree

  Aug 2013 - now

  Artistic Director

  Awkward Tree are a northern Theatre company specialising in co-creation and physical theatre.

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  Freelance

  Sept 2013 - now

  Youth and Community Arts Practitioner

  Currently working with The Lowry on The National Theatre’s ‘Speak Up’ Project, Octagon Theatre Bolton as Lead Facilitator for the Women’s Group and Octabelles, Lead Facilitator on the Epic Fail project with The Old Courts (and Wigan Council), LAMDA Instructor at Bolton School, Director for Awkward Tree Youth Theatre, and Director / Choreographer for various productions including (most recently) NGT’s Frankie Goes To Horror Wood and You’ve Never Had It So Good with On the Go Theatre.

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  Wigan Youth Zone

  Sept 2013 - Feb 2017

  Performing Arts Department Manager

  The single biggest youth provision of its kind in Europe, with over 10,000 active members. I worked with children and young people to create original theatre, dance, musicals, pantomimes, film and showcases. I was also responsible for providing public performances for annual balls and charity events, including performances for Prince Harry of Wales, Prince Edward Earl of Essex, and then Prime Minister, David Cameron. Under my leadership our department achieved trophies in all Arts based categories for the 2015 Annual Presidents Cup. Show less

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  The University of Bolton

  Dec 2018 - Aug 2020

  Visiting Lecturer

  Module Leader HE Level 4 Devising & L5 Creative Research Subject Specialist Supervisor L6 Major Project (Dissertation Equivalent)Also taught on Theatre History, Applied and Community Theatre, Street Theatre and Professional Practitioner modules. Facilitator for an action research project with a group of PhD Islamic Finance students as contribution to a paper presented at the UKCGE conference 2018 titled; Academic Mask, Educational Spaces and Global Learners – Finding a Voice.

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  Octagon Theatre Bolton

  Aug 2019 - Apr 2022

  Academy Director & Producer