Name: Miles Mitchell
Programme: BA (Hons) European Theatre Arts
Graduated: 2010
I am an actor, writer and co-founder of Page One Theatre Company.
Graduating from BA (Hons) European Theatre Arts (ETA) I was desperate to create and connect with other creatives. I started my acting career not long after graduating when I was cast in Forever Young, a project at the Young Vic Theatre directed by a fellow Rose Bruford graduate director Ola Ince. Shortly after I was cast in The Shakespeare's Globe production of The Mystery Plays. It was at The Globe Theatre that I met Chloe Stephens, and together we co-founded Page One Theatre in 2012.
Page One Theatre as a company was actually formed at The Unicorn Theatre during a research and development period that Chloe and I led. Page One is a company dedicated to creating exciting new stories for young audiences and families. The company collaborates with a wealth of other artists from varied backgrounds to produce ensemble theatre. Combining movement and puppetry, with both traditional and new technologies, we create original and vibrant new stories for children and their families. Throwing open the doors to the theatre world for those who are at the beginning of their journey.
After the success of our first story The Bridge, written by myself and directed by Chloe, Page One Theatre continued to research and develop new story ideas, successfully applying for Arts Council England funding. Key to this was the strong links we established with The Chelsea Theatre, The Polka and The Unicorn. We have been commissioned by The Lyric Hammersmith, mentored by Sue Buckmaster, and are currently supported by The Arts Depot.
Page One Theatre flourished and has performed at The Rose Theatre Kingston IYAF, The Chelsea Theatre, The Lyric Outdoor Festival and Latitude Festival. During Page One’s growth I was also having to learn to balance my work as a professional actor as well as the responsibilities that came with co-artistic directing a company.
During this period I started working at The National Theatre, first appearing in A Taste Of Honey and then in Great Britain directed by Sir Nicholas Hytner. Great Britain started at The National Theatre and then transferred to The Theatre Royal, Haymarket. Alongside this I also helped devise a new project for young audiences at The National Theatre Studio as part of the Shakespeare's school project – this was the Comedy of Errors directed by Bijan Sheibani. I particularly enjoyed this project as it allowed me to use my experience working with Page One whilst at the same time evolving my path as an actor.
Since working at The National Theatre I have had the chance to work with theatre companies that I have long admired (and studied whilst training on ETA) including Graeae’s Blood Wedding and Talawa Theatre Company’s King Lear the film. For my work on King Lear I won IAR’s Best Emerging Actor Award in 2016. There has also been some TV work, including appearances in ITV’s Law and Order and E4’s Drifters. This summer I am working on the Royal Shakepeare Company’s production of Oscar Wilde's Salome and Dido Christopher Marlowe’s Queen of Carthage. I am also finding the time to write a new play for families and young audiences.
I learnt a tremendous amount about how to run a company through my training on ETA, and on my Erasmus placement at Institute del Teatre, Barcelona. I had constant support from tutors in the early stages of developing my company and very much looked forward to workshopping ideas for Page One Theatre with ETA students, who understand my approach as a practitioner. My knowledge of devised theatre has been indispensable when researching and developing ideas for directors and companies, especially for directors at The National Theatre Studio.
My position has recently shifted in Page One, to allow time to focus on my career as an actor, and so I have stepped-down as co-artistic director and now focus on the company’s creative projects as a creative associate. ETA has prepared me to be a multi functioning company member malleable to new, exciting and necessary changes that may occur whilst in a company.
The advice I would give to any current or future student would be to keep your journals note books, because you still learn from them once you leave. As well you need to stay connected to the companies and artists you meet whilst training, and stay connected to each other and the school.
Useful links:
BA (Hons) European Theatre Arts
Page One Theatre Company
Miles Mitchell on Spotlight