Theatre Director
Producer
Omidaze Productions

 

Next under the member spotlight – Yvonne Murphy!

I am Yvonne Murphy. I am a freelance Theatre Director/Producer and run Omidaze Productions.

I read Drama at Manchester University before going on to train as an actor at RWCMD and afterwards also train as a teacher of English & Drama at UCL.

I have worked in theatre, the arts and education for over 23 years working with such companies as The National Theatre, Bristol Old Vic, the Sherman, The English Shakespeare Company and The Shakespeare Schools Festival. I returned to South Wales from London nine years ago where I now live with my actor/writer husband and three children.

I believe passionately that access to the Arts & Culture is a fundamental right of every citizen and that the Arts must form a central and pivotal role within British Society and specifically within Education.

I  became involved in What Next? last year when I was awarded the Arts Council of Wales Clore Leadership Fellowship 2013/14 www.cloreleadership.org. For my secondment I was asked to cover the maternity leave for the Strategic Lead for What Next?

I would like What Next? to help the people in this country to take back the ownership of art and culture. I would like them to demand it as a public good for themselves their children and their grandchildren. I would like them to moan about art and culture the way people moan about the NHS. I would like every citizen to demand, debate and celebrate art and culture since I believe access to art and culture creates privileged, engaged, healthy, prosperous, responsible and happy citizens.