I’ve always believed that what we do naturally as children is a clue to what role(s) we choose to follow in our adult years.  So, what did I do?  Well, I wrote stories and poetry, started visual art projects, pretended I was a radio presenter, sold trinkets for charity from a table outside our house, set up a disco in our cellar for charity, pretended I was a model, put on plays for the neighbours and sang – everywhere and anywhere.  Seems like I was a natural performer from aged four when I entertained anyone who would listen with Lulu and Sandie Shaw songs!!

When I was 10 years old, I started guitar lessons, but my mother insisted on joining me and she wanted to play classical, not folk and I soon lost interest.  She did pretty well, much to my frustration.

Now performance is very much part of my life and I would like to do even more.  I produced a community radio show for 13 years.  The show, Cultural Collage, was a two-hour weekly magazine show which involved interviewing artists from diverse cultures, discussions on cultural issues, and, of course, music and features from around the world.   It was through interviewing musicians for the show and finding out how difficult it was for them to get paid work, that I ended up starting a world music agency and campaigning for the world music industry in Manchester.  In 2010, I set up a festival – the Cultural Collage World Music Festival – and as part of that I wound up programming a city-wide festival, stage managing, compering and DJing between sets.

I enjoyed the four years I produced the festival immensely, but unfortunately it was my Mum dying in the middle of the planning for the final festival which led to a total breakdown and the realisation that I needed to do more for me and not just focus on other artists.  I had to let go of the radio show and the festival in order to do this.

I have participated in many acting courses over the years, but since 2017 I have had paid roles in two productions:  Woman of My Dreams by an Indian writer, Rashida Mustafa.  This dealt with the challenging subject of female genital mutilation (FGM) and how it affects relationships across cultures.  Earlier this year I also played a leading role in Women of Freedom Square produced by Fereshteh Mozaffari of Sheba Arts here in Manchester.  This powerful play shone a light on the issues faced by women in Iran.  As a result, I am now taking my acting more seriously and I am excited about using it to raise issues which need discussion.  I am also very interested in the power of community theatre.

Earlier this year I was invited to take the lead in a short BFI-funded film directed and written by Jo Lane.  I played the grandmother of the main character Billie Jo, played by Hollyoaks actress, Haiesha Mistry.  It was a fabulous experience and we are all eagerly awaiting the premiere.  From that I have just been approached to take part in another short film, directed by Rowan Lark – it’s a secret for now, but it is being entered to a film competition and if it is funded, then Happy Days!

I run the social enterprise Lingua Franca World Community CIC www.worldcommunitycic.org and work with a wonderful team of diverse artists on a regular basis.