biography

theatre maker / performer / movement director / facilitator

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Gemma (she/her) is a Welsh independent artist, making and collaborating between Wales and the South-West. Curious, playful and with with a love of improvisation and inter-disciplinary practice, she explores the human-being in the world through exchanges of dancing, writing, comedy, drawing and voice-work. Her training has its roots in devised theatre, contemporary dance and physical theatre (Jasmin Vardimon Company) and pays particular attention to her practice with Phillip Zarrilli in psychophysical process through Asian martial/meditation arts. 

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In 2019 she finished an Arts Council England ‘Developing Your Creative Practice’ award which explored embodied relationships between writing, dance and voice, with mentoring from Kaite O’Reilly (Playwright), Phillip Zarrilli (Director), Cai Tomos (Dance Artist), James Gitsham (Voice Tutor- Bristol Old Vic Theatre School) and Laura Drane (Creative Consultant/Producer). Following this, her first stage play ‘Splinter’ (developed through the Other Room’s emerging writers programme) was produced with Red Oak Theatre, at Sherman Theatre Studio in Autumn 2024. Her solo work ‘Dances I made on my Bathroom Floor’ was shortlisted for a Wales Theatre Award (Jan 2016) for Best Female Dance Artist, and her short film 'MOULT' (2022) was a finalist in ADRA film festival.  

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Community engagement is an important part of her practice. She aims to create an inclusive space to work alongside particpants to find their creative voice. In 2025, she completed a 9 month training course in Creative Health Facilitation with CreativeShift. For more information about facilitation please click here.

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Her second son was born in 2025 and she now looks to continuing a creative future as a mother and maker.

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Photo by Jorge Lizalde

Photo description:

Gemma is lying on the studio floor with her knees up and one arm rests above her head. She holds a microphone towards her mouth. The background is dark, with a projection of multicoloured paint streaks that cover her body and face.