the team
Co-Artistic Director
Pete has a long history of making original theatre work as well as having directed both classics and commercial musicals. He has worked with imitating the dog since 2004, leading on directing performance, and also teaches at Central Saint Martin’s.
Co-Artistic Director
Andrew is a founder member of imitating the dog. Andrew leads on writing for the company and has directed a number of productions. Andrew also teaches at Lancaster Institute of Contemporary Arts (LICA) at Lancaster University and has published widely on contemporary art practices.
Co-Artistic Director
Simon is a founder member of the company, starting off in 1998 as a devisor and performer. He now leads on all video design for the company. He is also a musician and is part of the band Hope & Social.
Executive Director
Julie started working with imitating the dog in 2018, having previously worked independently as a theatre producer and in arts administration. Julie has worked in venues and produced festivals and has a particular interest in light art.
Creative Engagement Manager
Ben is a writer, performer, educator and project manager based in Manchester. As a participatory arts facilitator and participatory project manager, Ben has worked extensively with people of all ages and prior to ITD was Youth Theatre Director at Collective Encounters for 6 years. He has created numerous solo and collaborative shows incorporating spoken word, theatre and music that have toured nationally and internationally: www.benmellor.net
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Laura is an actor and writer who trained at Bretton Hall. Since her first production with imitating the dog in 2007, Laura has toured both nationally and internationally and has been involved in the making of ten theatre shows with the company, most recently Macbeth. In October 2022, Laura gained a distinction a MA in Creative Writing, on the scriptwriting route, from Manchester Writing School and is currently working on her next play. www.lauraatherton.co.uk
Morgan is a graduate of DNA Performance Resource in Manchester. His TV work includes In The Dark (BBC) and Coronation Street (ITV). Recently, Morgan has performed with imitating the dog in Night of the Living Dead – Remix and Heart of Darkness, and Airlock, which was streamed on BBC Iplayer.
Davi is a Co-Artistic Director of idontloveyouanymore, a digital art and performance company based in the North of England. They have worked with award winning companies and venues. Davi designed and co-directed To Miss The Ending, winning Best XR/Immersive at BFI London Film Festival 2020, and an Official Selection at Sundance Film Festival 2021.
Alan is a theatre technologist developing his craft from small scale arts pieces to The West End, Broadway, international expositions, film and TV. Theatre design and development credits include Ghost, Prince of Egypt, Before The Dawn (Kate Bush), Winter’s Tale and Julius Caesar (RSC).
Andrew Crofts is a visual designer and technologist who works with lighting, video and interactive tech for theatre, dance and mixed-media companies. Andrew has worked with a range of other companies including Blast Theory, Belarus Free Theatre, Every House Has A Door, Invisible Flock, Streetwise Opera, Geraldine Pilgrim Performance, Jasmin Vardimon and Spymonkey.
Keicha Greenidge is a film, television and theatre actor. She trained at DNA Resource and The Acting Class. As well as performing internationally, her works include: Three Girls (BBC), In the Club (BBC) and The Feed (Amazon). Keicha is currently working on a book and is represented by Morello Cherry Acting Agency.
James is a Belfast born trumpet player and educator based in Yorkshire. After studying Jazz Performance and an MA in Composition at Leeds College of Music, he began writing for his own award-winning jazz orchestra and joined pioneering DIY indie band Hope and Social. He has taught in schools and colleges and lead workshops for choirs and ensembles around the UK. His work is multi-genre and includes commissions for jazz orchestra, theatre shows and installations.
Laura graduated in Interior Architecture and studied at the Motley Theatre Design course. Her work ranges from mainstream theatre, musicals and international opera to experimental performance and installation. She’s designed for the Old Vic, Royal Court, ICA, National Theatre, Royal Exchange, Barbican, Leeds Playhouse, Shakespeare’s Globe, RSC, London Palladium, Sadler’s Wells, ENO, Opera North and the New York Met. She has worked with Pete Brooks for over 25 years. www.laurahopkins.co.uk/
Rory is a production & technical manager with a keen ear and talent for sound design, engineering and general noise making. Rory has managed and/or covered audio needs across various festivals and a wide range of shows, tours and events, including SummerWorks Performance Festival, Manchester International Festival, Canada Hub, Counting Sheep (Selfconscious Productions), Old Stock: A Refugee Love Story (2b Theatre) and Kagami (tindrum). Rory has worked with imitating the dog since 2014, designing and touring The Train, Storm From Paradise, Dracula: The Untold Story, Cinema Inferno, Macbeth and Frankenstein.
Morven is an actor, theatre maker and facilitator based in Scotland, and has been working with ITD since 2005. Morven has also recently performed with other companies including Aphids, Disaster Plan, Improbable, Bodies in Flight and Invisible Flock. TV credits include Outlander (Starz/Sony Pictures Television) and Holby City (BBC). Film credits include Vampire Diary (Peccadillo Pictures/Bard Entertainment). She is represented by Regan Management. www.morvenmacbeth.co.uk
Matt first worked with imitating the dog in 2011. Since then he has worked with the company regularly. Credits include Pericles (National Theatre), The Tempest (English Touring Opera), Guardians (feature film). Matt trained at Guildhall School of Music and Drama.
www.mattprendergast.com
Adela Rajnović is a performer and theatre maker based in London. She trained at Central Saint Martins, where she specialised in performance and devising. Her work spans across many different disciplines, including (but not limited to) theatre, live art, film, and contemporary music. Throughout this exploration of mediums, Adela has been fortunate enough to collaborate with several established artists including Lea Anderson, Matthew Shlomowitz, and players from The London Sinfonietta.
Matthew is a performance designer and maker. He has worked on projects with the company since 2019. The Sheffield based creative has previously produced sets and props for, TV, music video, art exhibitions and advertising. How own work examines relationships between play, performance and design. www.matthewtully.org
Theatre Consultant
David is an independent theatre consultant who has worked in producing theatre for thirty years. He specialises in business strategy and financial planning, promoting both resilience and sustainability and has a particular interest in supporting, promoting and producing the work of LGBTQI+ artists and companies.
Artist
Sumit is a Manchester-based sculptor and painter working with digital technology, including the use of video mapping, motion capture, virtual reality and 3D print. Sumit also works as a designer, curator and workshop leader.
Producer
Kate is an experienced Producer and Project Manager with particular skills in delivering complex live events. Kate has worked on international events for the Barbican and Manchester International Festival. After several years working with Grassington Festival, Kate is now retraining in cyber (she just doesn’t know it yet).
Law Graduate
Amber is a law graduate, currently studying for a masters in Security and International law and is due to begin her Legal Practice Course this September alongside a masters in Law, Business and Finance. She has varied experience in professional and committee roles, spanning the political, legal and charitable sectors.
Director-Producer
Jameela is a freelance director working in theatre for young (Bradfordian) audiences and a creative producer for (Cumbrian) artist filmmakers, and comes with experience in project planning, management & evaluation, pitching, and fundraising. Jameela relishes topic/news-based deep dives and distilling findings to others.
Freelance Charity Finance consultant
Peter was head of Finance at Oldham Coliseum Theatre for 14 years with particular experience in TheatreTax Relief and VAT Cultural Exemption. He has also worked with West Yorkshire Playhouse, Liverpool Everyman Theatres. Peter is also a Director of Dr Kershaw’s Hospice in Oldham. In his spare time he has also been know to tread the boards in the local Amateur Theatre world and has been recently appointed as Musical Director for Saddleworth Musical Society
Freelance Stage Manager and Producer
Katie is Technical Coordinator at Curve Theatre in Leicester, and is based in Nottingham. After graduating from the University of York’s Theatre: Writing, Directing, Performance course in 2021, Katie did a series of freelance stage management and associate producing jobs (including a stint in New York), as well as working as Operations Assistant at Nottingham Playhouse.