Katie is a teacher and youth theatre leader. As a playwright, she is currently working with Framework Theatre Company and Strange Town. She has performed with TBC in Absolute Improv! as part of the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.
0131 629 0292
info@strangetown.org.uk
Meet more of the Team
Pollyanna Esse
Pollyanna has worked with Strange Town for 2 years assisting various workshops. She graduated from Edinburgh University in 2022 with a Fine Art degree and is now training to be an Art Physiotherapist.
She has worked in theatre throughout her life and found her love for directing and producing in her final year of her undergraduate degree. In 2022, she wrote and directed her own Fringe show, going on to work for a New York based Theatre company. There she produced a programme for young and emerging playwrights as well as taking their show to Fringe in 2023. Some of the playwrights she mentored have now been commission to write for multiple theatres in New York. She has always had a love for arts education and giving people the space and opportunity to express themselves.
She has worked for Edinburgh International Festival for the past 2 years as their Digital Content Officer. So she has an strong organisation head too as well as being a creative at heart!
She recently set up Ophelia Hare Arts, where she aims to develop creative experiences that challenge the barriers of pay for early career creatives. She believes that no matter who you are, you should have access to the arts and experience the freedom of expression.
Thomas Mugglestone
Thomas is an actor and writer based in Edinburgh since 2016 where he graduated from the MGA Academy of Performing Arts with a BA Hons for Acting. During this time he co-wrote, performed and directed a play for schools in the East Lothian area called “Raising Sheep” tackling themes of prejudice in its various forms.
Since graduating in 2019, Thomas has gone on to perform in plays at the Fringe Festival, Voice Over roles for audio dramas and animations, and a TV spot in Outlander.
Prior to his time in Edinburgh Thomas was a part of musical theatre youth company “Phoenix Youth Theatre” in Aberdeen, and before that two different comedy improv troupes “Creatures of Impulse” and “Improv the Nation” in California where Thomas got his start into the world of performing arts.
Dan Webb
Assistant Director - Friday 8-10s
Dan Webb is an Actor who recently graduated with a BA Honours Degree in Dance and Drama from Edinburgh College. He enjoys devising and creating pieces of work that put smiles on the faces of his audience, and is always looking for new avenues to bring happiness to people through Drama.
James Beagon
Youth Theatre Manager
James is a director, playwright and creative learning facilitator who has lived and worked in Edinburgh for over a decade.
He has worked with Strange Town since 2015 and has written and directed a number of Strange Town productions including Stolen Futures (Traverse Theatre, June 2019) Beneath the Surface (Traverse Theatre, June 2022), Heart of the Storm & Something Special (Scottish Storytelling Centre, Dec 2021) and Over the Waves (Traverse Theatre, June 2023). In addition to his role as Youth Theatre Manager, he leads the Monday and Wednesday youth theatre groups.
Previous credits with his own group Aulos Productions include the award-winning Fringe productions First Class (2014) and Gobland for the Goblins (2017) and the award-nominated Women of the Mourning Fields (2015) and Antigone na hEireann (2018).
James has worked extensively as a freelance drama practitioner with companies including East Lothian Youth Theatre, Lyceum Youth Theatre, Youth Theatre Arts Scotland, Theatre Sans Accents and Acting Out Drama School.
He holds an MFA in Directing from Edinburgh Napier and an M.A. (Hons) in Ancient and Medieval History from Edinburgh University and has run workshops and guest-lectured at both institutions.
Lori Cook
Lori graduated from Performing Arts Studio Scotland in 2023 with a BA Hons degree in Dance and Drama with Kingston University.
She has been involved in theatre her whole life from performing to assistant-directing and choreographing for amateur theatre groups. She wants to encourage children get into drama and to make it a fun enjoyable way for them to express themselves.
Rebecca Forsyth
Assistant - Monday 8-18s
Rebecca is a graduate of Edinburgh Napier University where she studied Acting and English Literature. She since joined Strange Town youth agency and has toured extensively around Scotland with performances for high schools, in the premiere of STORM LANTERN in 2022, and BALISONG (Strange Town in partnership with Fast Forward productions).
She has also toured the UK with various shows including ANTIGONE NA hEIREANN (Aulos Productions) and THE SHAKESPEARES; SCENES FROM A MARRIAGE (Storyboard Theatre), which was also taken to high school pupils.
She has enjoyed working with young people in various theatrical settings: post-show discussions/workshops, script development and short film work for BFI/Screen Education Edinburgh. She has a great passion for music in performance and has assisted in teaching songs in a children’s theatre group.
She cares about allowing young people to create and play in a way that lets them learn and express themselves, and she enjoys learning just as much from them.
