I don't think I've ever not loved theatre.
As a child, I bullied my brothers into putting on costumes and performing skits, was constantly singing made-up songs, and had absolutely nailed the dramatic stage faint (hands flung to my forehead and all).
Theatre was never just something I watched; it was something I lived. I wrote stories inspired by the world around me and used theatre as a way to explore ideas, characters, and the people I wanted to become, and the people I wanted to see on stage. It was a way to connect with friends and create something together.
Growing up as an expat in a country where I was very much the foreigner, my Saturday morning youth theatre classes were one of the few places I felt like I belonged (A shout-out to Prague Youth Theatre.) Looking back, I think that's where I first realised theatre wasn't just about the play, it was about finding your people.
There was something magical about a room full of people coming together to create something that had never existed before. The older I got, the more I came to realise that what makes theatre special isn't the lights or the venue; it's the people at the heart of the stories, and those who come to experience them.
For a few hours, complete strangers sit side by side, laugh, cry, gasp, and share the same story. Theatre unifies us. I would argue more than any other art form. (Email me and fight me on it.)
That love eventually led me to study Theatre Production at the Guildford School of Acting, specialising in Stage Management. Whilst I loved the organisation, the problem-solving, and the controlled chaos of the rehearsal room, I knew I wanted more. I wanted to build lasting relationships with artists and create productions that stayed with people long after they'd left the theatre. After graduating, I found myself working in talent representation. It gave me a front-row seat to the incredible work being created across the industry, but it also highlighted how difficult it can be for emerging creatives to find opportunities, build networks, and get ambitious projects off the ground.
Time and time again, I listened to some of the most talented, creative women I know talk about struggling to have their voices heard or being overlooked because of their age, their gender, or simply because they didn't already have a seat at the table. The more I listened, the more I realised that if we wanted the industry to change, we couldn't just wait for it to change; we had to become part of that change ourselves.
I firmly believe theatre is for everyone. Everyone should feel able to experience it, and that same sense of access should extend backstage too. Diverse voices don't just belong in the audience; they belong in rehearsal rooms, creative teams, production offices, and positions of leadership.
That's where Boudicca Productions began.
Co-founding Boudicca wasn't about having all the answers; in fact, we have very few. It was about creating the kind of company we wished existed: one that champions bold storytelling, supports artists throughout the creative process, and builds productions with collaboration, kindness, and curiosity at its heart.
It's scary .. terrifying, really. But we're only at the beginning of our journey, and that's what makes it so exciting. There are stories we can't wait to tell, artists we can't wait to work with, and, hopefully, a community that will grow alongside us.
If my younger self, scribbling stories and belting out songs with all the confidence of a prima donna, could see this now, I think she'd be delighted.
(Although she'd probably still insist on making her family sit through another performance.)