Christopher Brookes
Artistic Director / Founder
Christopher is an experienced Actor, Director and Producer. He has contributed to a wide range of projects in the theatre, radio, and television, with most recent credits including; Agatha Christie's Spiders Webb (Theatre Royal Nottingham) as well as, Father Brown, The Murderer in the Mirror (UK Tour), The Black Veil (UK Tour), Billy Liar, An Evening with Gary Linekar, The Titfield Thunderbolt, Funny Money, and Rattle of a Simple Man (Chesterfield Theatres). Current projects include “The Adventures of Alice in Wonderland” (UK tour), “Mr Toad” based on Kenneth Grahams ‘Wind in the Willows’ (UK tour) and HONK The Ugly Duckling Musical.
Among his other credits include summer seasons at the Cambridge Shakespeare Festival, where he played Lucentio in The Taming of the Shrew and Sebastian in Twelfth Night, as well as Lysander in Nick Winston’s adaptation of Midsummer Night's Dream at the Curve Theatre Leicester.
2015 saw Christopher's Master of Arts graduation from the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, where he received his training. Chris is also skilled as a puppeteer, having worked closely with Matthew Forbes (Associate Director of WAR HORSE). Experience includes, Parade Style Puppetry, Rod and Bunraku.
In 2016 Chris founded Wise Owl Theatre Company Ltd. As Artistic Director, he has motivated and developed creatives to extract the most from them whilst ensuring they felt both confident and valued. Leadership skills, good communication and an open, approachable personality were key in achieving this. Chris frequently directs and produces with a variety of reputable organisations and tours the nation to some of the most renowned venues in the UK.
Among his other credits include summer seasons at the Cambridge Shakespeare Festival, where he played Lucentio in The Taming of the Shrew and Sebastian in Twelfth Night, as well as Lysander in Nick Winston’s adaptation of Midsummer Night's Dream at the Curve Theatre Leicester.
2015 saw Christopher's Master of Arts graduation from the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, where he received his training. Chris is also skilled as a puppeteer, having worked closely with Matthew Forbes (Associate Director of WAR HORSE). Experience includes, Parade Style Puppetry, Rod and Bunraku.
In 2016 Chris founded Wise Owl Theatre Company Ltd. As Artistic Director, he has motivated and developed creatives to extract the most from them whilst ensuring they felt both confident and valued. Leadership skills, good communication and an open, approachable personality were key in achieving this. Chris frequently directs and produces with a variety of reputable organisations and tours the nation to some of the most renowned venues in the UK.
Chloe Thorpe
Producer
Chloe trained in musical theatre at Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts. After graduating, she played the role of Heavenly Friend in the musical Carousel, Hope in Rumpelstiltskin’s Daughter, as well as Hermia in A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Other theatre credits include: Mating Game, The Fancy Man, The Titfield Thunderbolt and Rattle of a Simple Man.
Chloe recently returned to theatre after taking a break, for a number of years, to work as a behaviourist with rescue dogs. She has appeared regularly on Paul O’Grady’s: For the Love of Dogs and BBC’s The One Show where she spoke about responsible puppy ownership!
She is delighted to be part of the creative team and is very excited to transfer her coaching and management skills to the role of assistant producer.
Chloe recently returned to theatre after taking a break, for a number of years, to work as a behaviourist with rescue dogs. She has appeared regularly on Paul O’Grady’s: For the Love of Dogs and BBC’s The One Show where she spoke about responsible puppy ownership!
She is delighted to be part of the creative team and is very excited to transfer her coaching and management skills to the role of assistant producer.
Matthew Forbes
Associate Director
Matthew works internationally as a Director, with a strong focus on puppetry, object manipulation and physical theatre. He trained at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama as an Actor, specialising in collaborative and devised theatre.
Alongside his professional directing career Matthew also teaches puppetry and movement internationally and has directed students in productions and projects from ArtsEd, East15 and the Royal Central School of Speech & Drama.
Credits include: The Woman Who Finally Got Inside Her Husband’s Brain (Omnibus Theatre); Holes (UK Tour); Skellig (Nottingham Playhouse); Treasure Island (Leicester Haymarket Theatre); Once on this Island (ArtsEd); Holes (Nottingham Playhouse); Babe The Sheep-Pig (Polka Theatre & National Tour); Dinner at the Twits (Les Enfants Terribles, The Vaults); The Witches (Dundee Rep); Adventures in Wonderland (Les Enfants Terribles, The Vaults); and The Steadfast Tin Soldier (Little Angel Theatre & The Old Vic). Associate/Assistant Credits include: War Horse (UK & International Tour 2019-2020); War Horse (UK Tour 2017-2018); Kiki’s Delivery Service (Southwark Playhouse); War Horse (UK, Ireland & South Africa 2013-2015); War Horse (Holland & Belgium tour 2014-2016); War Horse (Australia & New Zealand 2012-2013); War Horse (China 2016-2017); and Alice’s Adventures Underground (Les Enfants Terribles, The Vaults).
Alongside his professional directing career Matthew also teaches puppetry and movement internationally and has directed students in productions and projects from ArtsEd, East15 and the Royal Central School of Speech & Drama.
Credits include: The Woman Who Finally Got Inside Her Husband’s Brain (Omnibus Theatre); Holes (UK Tour); Skellig (Nottingham Playhouse); Treasure Island (Leicester Haymarket Theatre); Once on this Island (ArtsEd); Holes (Nottingham Playhouse); Babe The Sheep-Pig (Polka Theatre & National Tour); Dinner at the Twits (Les Enfants Terribles, The Vaults); The Witches (Dundee Rep); Adventures in Wonderland (Les Enfants Terribles, The Vaults); and The Steadfast Tin Soldier (Little Angel Theatre & The Old Vic). Associate/Assistant Credits include: War Horse (UK & International Tour 2019-2020); War Horse (UK Tour 2017-2018); Kiki’s Delivery Service (Southwark Playhouse); War Horse (UK, Ireland & South Africa 2013-2015); War Horse (Holland & Belgium tour 2014-2016); War Horse (Australia & New Zealand 2012-2013); War Horse (China 2016-2017); and Alice’s Adventures Underground (Les Enfants Terribles, The Vaults).
Kevin Jenkins
Designer
Kevin is a designer of set and costumes for theatrical productions. He trained on the Motley Theatre Design Course and produces designs that are innovative and visually creative whilst being practical.
With well over 100 credits, his playful and intelligent designs have been seen in many theatres including in London and New York.
His work is varied and includes designs for Sir Alan Ayckbourn and designs for large community casts.
With well over 100 credits, his playful and intelligent designs have been seen in many theatres including in London and New York.
His work is varied and includes designs for Sir Alan Ayckbourn and designs for large community casts.
Mel Knott
Associate Choreographer
Mel Knott has worked as the choreographer for Wise Owl Theatre Company’s “The Polar Express” production since 2018.
Mel is currently a Lecturer in Community Dance Practice at De Montfort University and Associate Dance Artist at Curve. She teaches and choreographs dance in higher education, schools and within the youth and community dance sector, and leads Curve’s Young Dance Company.
Her credits include: Curve’s productions of Fiddler on the Roof (2018) and A Midsummer Night’s Dream (2017); and movement director on Made at Curve productions of Giraffes Can’t Dance (2019), Cat in the Hat(2018), Roald Dahl’s George’s Marvellous Medicine (2017), Breakfast at Tiffany’s (2016), Roald Dahl’s The Witches (2015/16).
In 2014 Mel worked alongside Nikolai Foster to create a large-scale community performance for Richard III reinterment at Leicester Cathedral.Prior to moving to the East Midlands, Mel enjoyed 12 years as the Director of Dance at The BRIT School in London.
Mel is currently a Lecturer in Community Dance Practice at De Montfort University and Associate Dance Artist at Curve. She teaches and choreographs dance in higher education, schools and within the youth and community dance sector, and leads Curve’s Young Dance Company.
Her credits include: Curve’s productions of Fiddler on the Roof (2018) and A Midsummer Night’s Dream (2017); and movement director on Made at Curve productions of Giraffes Can’t Dance (2019), Cat in the Hat(2018), Roald Dahl’s George’s Marvellous Medicine (2017), Breakfast at Tiffany’s (2016), Roald Dahl’s The Witches (2015/16).
In 2014 Mel worked alongside Nikolai Foster to create a large-scale community performance for Richard III reinterment at Leicester Cathedral.Prior to moving to the East Midlands, Mel enjoyed 12 years as the Director of Dance at The BRIT School in London.