Kirsty Mealing

I have been professionally storytelling in many forms. Plays, poetry, film, animation, comedy, campaigns. Through writing, acting as narrative lead, devising, dramaturging, editing, performing, casting. I most enjoy toying with the absurd, the bizarre, and finding peculiar truthfulness that toes the line of comedy and the dark. But whatever I create, it is done through acts of play and most crucially asking “what if”.

These days, I find myself Hertfordshire based with strong links to the midlands. If I’m not creating something, then I’m likely gaming, playing/DMing Dungeons and Dragons games… or being terrorized by my bunny overlord, Pablo. 

Writer & Creative, Freelance

JUL 2012 - PRESENT

Some highlights include:

• Five years of dramaturgical support for Arena Theatre’s annual double bill of adapted eerie classics, Dark Tales in Winter
• Commissioned by 14/48 UK to adapt Dickens’ A Christmas Carol for their Theatre Anonymous project, continuing the original Seattle-based festival’s 12+ year tradition where the cast’s identities are concealed (from the audience and each other) until they stand for their first line. The show has sold out for two years in a row.
• Currently independently working on a horror playscript, a tabletop RPG murder mystery game and a mystery/detective text-based game using Twine

Game Master, Workspace 1

JAN 2021 - PRESENT

• Narrative, creative and script writing lead for numerous media projects including films, animations and demos debuting at major industry events such as Mobile World Congress
• Casting and directing for both film and voiceover projects
• Creating and establishing a new tone of voice for Workspace 1’s upcoming rebrand
• Editing and proofing internal and client communications, from pitch presentations to industry white papers

Production Assistant, Workspace 1

JAN 2018 - JAN 2021

• Writing and creating a wide range of internal and client materials inc. animation, film, demos and infographics
• Ran Workspace 1’s social media accounts and those of the company’s sister project, Creative Coffee

Assistant Producer, Twist & Shout Communications

OCT 2015 - OCT 2017

• Produced four corporate comedy series and several short films, taking the lead on casting, talent and agent liaison, booking locations, sourcing props and costumes, and handling £60k+ budgets
• Actively contributed to our series’ creative sessions as well as editing scripts for pre-production and writing a live sketch for fans of our lead series, Restricted Intelligence 
• Organised an intimate premiere of one of Twist & Shout’s series for cast and crew

Festival Programmer & Facilitator, The Mighty Creatives

OCT 2016 - MAY 2017

• Facilitated Arts Award workshops for primary and secondary school students, helping them to curate a Shakespeare-themed festival at the Arena Theatre, Wolverhampton
• Co-adapted, cast and directed the secondary school students’ headlining production of Titus Andronicus 
• Organised additional festival programming and talent sourcing

Committee Member, Story City Festival

NOV 2014 - NOV 2016

• Programmed new works by emerging artists, with disciplines including digital performance, spoken word, immersive theatre, film and podcasts
• Mentored young artists and supported their promenade art heist performance at New Walk Museum, Leicester
• Proofread and assisted the distribution of marketing materials

Drama Tutor, The Helen O’Grady Drama Academy

OCT 2013 - OCT 2015

• Taught drama and communication skills to young people ages 5-17
• Marketed and delivered on-site drama taster sessions for schools 
• Directed summer showcase performances and provided production support

Artistic Director & Co-Founder, Scufflebox Theatre Co.

JUL 2012 - JUL 2017

• Co-created (writing, dramaturgy, performing, directing) unexpected theatre adaptations of classic texts, including a 90s-themed promenade Hamlet held in a Leicester coffee shop, a poetry-led Journey to the Centre of the Earth, and even a commissioned Shakespeare-inspired piece for The GREAT Festival of Creativity in Shanghai, China  
• Facilitated Shakespeare workshops for primary, secondary and SEN schools that culminated in a bitesize performance
• Ran and curated content for the company’s social media accounts

First class Drama Studies BA (Hons)
De Montfort University, Leicester
SEP 2010 - AUGUST 2013

Bronze & Silver Advisor
Arts Award
OCT 2016 - MAY 2017

Three A Levels & two AS Levels
Meridian Sixth Form, Royston
SEP 2008 - JUL 2010