https://www.myrtletheatreco.com/home daily 1.0 2026-04-21 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69a57eb7ca2fdc7e5a0f8538/a6e136be-e0e5-4647-8b08-67462cad7831/image-001.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69a57eb7ca2fdc7e5a0f8538/d9169e58-b4cc-420d-b13c-b7905f5f5209/-C2-A9RWD12_Up-20Down-20Boy_046.jpg https://www.myrtletheatreco.com/about daily 0.75 2026-04-21 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69a57eb7ca2fdc7e5a0f8538/8dc2c683-4cd8-41cb-a17e-c09f0e57d44f/Nathan+Bessell+and+Bryn+Thomas+in+Up+Down+Man+at+Salisbury+Playhouse+%28Credit+Richard+Davenport%29.jpg https://www.myrtletheatreco.com/who-we-are daily 0.75 2026-04-21 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69a57eb7ca2fdc7e5a0f8538/dc6c05fc-b418-4fc6-8064-f97ddff042d2/heatherbio.jpg Who We Are https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69a57eb7ca2fdc7e5a0f8538/089b1bb9-326b-4f7f-914f-6a26e74160fd/IMG_4240+%281%29.jpeg Who We Are https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69a57eb7ca2fdc7e5a0f8538/d86079fe-765a-4f1d-a408-059db7bc288d/42ad955f-2084-42eb-b00b-263ed34b72d1.jpeg Who We Are https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69a57eb7ca2fdc7e5a0f8538/2356f3cc-3eb8-4a9f-9915-84ec8e963f6d/1000017632+%281%29.jpg Who We Are https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69a57eb7ca2fdc7e5a0f8538/4c718d3b-439a-4fba-8ecb-5d910bd831aa/Nathan+Bessell+Actor+1+-+Ben+Robbins.jpeg Who We Are https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69a57eb7ca2fdc7e5a0f8538/8e2359d8-fdc4-4f32-aca5-40a7ce2e7742/Michael+Straun.jpeg Who We Are https://www.myrtletheatreco.com/contact-us daily 0.75 2026-03-19 https://www.myrtletheatreco.com/team/heather-williams daily 0.75 2026-04-21 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69a57eb7ca2fdc7e5a0f8538/dc6c05fc-b418-4fc6-8064-f97ddff042d2/heatherbio.jpg Heather Williams Since 2004 Heather has been artistically responsible for all productions and participation activities for Myrtle Theatre a company she co-founded. She works as an actor, director, facilitator, trainer, consultant and mentor. From 1991-2004 and various productions since, she worked for Bristol Old Vic as a performer and director. She also co-founded and was director of Bristol Old Vic Young Company and Outreach, Participation and Engagement work. Her early acting career included films written and directed by the Oscar winning Anthony Minghella - A Little Like Drowning, Truly Madly Deeply and Whale Music and the stage premiere of his play Two Planks and A Passion. She was a presenter of the iconic BBC programmes Play Away and Play School, in addition to making numerous other appearances on TV and Radio and performing in Theatres throughout the country. Heather has delivered consultancies for Theatre Royal, Bury St Edmunds, Salisbury Playhouse and Tobacco Factory Theatres, restructuring and writing policies for their Participation Departments. Recent work as a performer has been with Ad Infinitum, Travelling Light, Tobacco Factory Theatres, The Wardrobe Ensemble, Wiltshire Creative and Bristol Old Vic. https://www.myrtletheatreco.com/team/morag-massey daily 0.75 2026-04-22 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69a57eb7ca2fdc7e5a0f8538/089b1bb9-326b-4f7f-914f-6a26e74160fd/IMG_4240+%281%29.jpeg Morag Massey Formerly Executive Director at Bristol’s Shakespeare at the Tobacco Factory, Morag has produced and toured numerous productions. Her career includes roles as researcher for BBC Radio 4, Marketing Manager for Circomedia, Executive Producer for Opera Up Close, Producer for Bristol Old Vic Theatre School and Interim Artistic Director/Producer for Tobacco Factory Theatres. Morag has secured funding through trusts, grants, sponsorship and membership schemes. She was a trustee of Travelling Light Theatre Company and Bristol Old Vic Theatre School and a founding trustee for Smart Works Bristol. Alongside her freelance theatre work, she is a wellbeing coach for WorkWell West at Bristol City Council and recently achieved an ILM Level 5 Certificate in Effective Coaching and Mentoring at UWE. https://www.myrtletheatreco.com/team/nathan-bessell daily 0.75 2026-04-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69a57eb7ca2fdc7e5a0f8538/4c718d3b-439a-4fba-8ecb-5d910bd831aa/Nathan+Bessell+Actor+1+-+Ben+Robbins.jpeg Nathan Bessell Nathan created the role of Matty for Up Down Boy, Up Down Man and Up Down BIG Man performing at theatres including Salisbury Playhouse, Tobacco Factory Theatres, The Royal National Theatre, Hull Truck, The Egg Bath Theatre Royal, Cheltenham Everyman and on tour and at Capital E Festival New Zealand. Other work for Myrtle Theatre Company includes : The Three Little Pigs (tour to nursery schools & early years centres); The Beggars Opera, Romeo & Juliet (QEH Theatre); Through the Wire, Jollity Farm (Tobacco Factory Theatre); City of One (Tobacco Factory Theatre, Westminster and on tour to conferences); Ori Eni (Healthy Schools conference); Hello Craig (regional tour); Hot Air (Tobacco Factory Theatres). Other : The Ice Palace (Bristol Old Vic / National Theatre Connections Festival). Photograph by Ben Robbins https://www.myrtletheatreco.com/team/catherine-johnson daily 0.75 2026-04-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69a57eb7ca2fdc7e5a0f8538/78c6c5c2-356e-4ffe-9e20-5868cb14a046/1000017632+%281%29.jpg Catherine Johnson Catherine is the writer of the global hit stage musical ‘Mamma Mia!’ and 2008 movie. Catherine grew up in Gloucestershire. She left school at 16 and had a variety of jobs and two children before writing her first play. ‘Rag Doll’ won the inaugural Bristol Old Vic/HTV playwright award, launching Catherine’s 30 year career in theatre, TV and film. Catherine has been involved with Myrtle Theatre since its inception. She has written two musicals for Myrtle, ‘Through The Wire’ and ‘Letter to Lacey’, working with Heather and talented young performers and crew from Bristol. She also had the privilege of working with Sue Shields as dramaturg on ‘Up Down Boy’. https://www.myrtletheatreco.com/support-us daily 0.75 2026-05-28 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69a57eb7ca2fdc7e5a0f8538/0bc2329a-6390-4aa4-900e-c31a3522a6a3/Photo+13-04-2026%2C+12+54+50.jpg Support Us - Up Down BIG Man performance dates Salisbury Playhouse (Salberg Studio) 7–17 October 2026 Bristol Old Vic (Weston Studio) 20-24 October 2026 “ It’s about feelings, a new house. Missing family. It’s like Jurassic Park I love it. It’s funny. With Tom and Tom perfect. Together. Rieko is very, very good. Up Down BIG Man really great. Powerful Excited.’ - Nathan Bessell Up Down BIG Man co devisor and performer. https://video.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69a57eb7ca2fdc7e5a0f8538/0eb14735-4410-4b33-a267-21cd8baaeff6/playlist.m3u8 https://video.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69a57eb7ca2fdc7e5a0f8538/0eb14735-4410-4b33-a267-21cd8baaeff6/thumbnail Support Us Support Us https://www.myrtletheatreco.com/team/michael-straun daily 0.75 2026-04-06 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69a57eb7ca2fdc7e5a0f8538/8e2359d8-fdc4-4f32-aca5-40a7ce2e7742/Michael+Straun.jpeg Michael Straun Michael has been Myrtle Theatre Company’s lighting designer from 2005 lighting the majority of our shows including Up Down Boy and Up Down Man. Meanwhile he has been building an international reputation in the music industry. Concert Lighting Design and Direction : Beyoncé Cowboy Carter tour (associate lighting designer/ director), Håkan Hellström Gothenburg 2025 (lighting director), The 1975 Glastonbury 2025 (lighting director), Beyoncé Renaissance tour and film (lighting director), Kehlani, Drake OVO festival 2022, The 1975 (lighting director), Shania Twain (lighting director), Björk, The xx, Jamie xx, Koreless, James Arthur, Skepta, Tinie Tempah, FKA twigs, Todd Terje, The Avalanches, Crystal Fighters, Skindred, Glasvegas, Alexis Jordan, The Blackout, Kids in Glass Houses, Morning Parade, Hadouken!, The Answer, Jethro Tull, Ian Anderson. https://www.myrtletheatreco.com/team/rieko-kijima daily 0.75 2026-04-21 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69a57eb7ca2fdc7e5a0f8538/d86079fe-765a-4f1d-a408-059db7bc288d/42ad955f-2084-42eb-b00b-263ed34b72d1.jpeg Rieko Kijima - Rieko trained in Performing Arts at Subaru Theatre School Tokyo. For ten years she studied Japanese Traditional Dance, stage combat and Iaido ( Japanese swordsmanship) at Chiba Studio and for seven years in Kyudo ( Japanese Archery) at Fukuoka and Fukushima. She has worked as a freelance artist, director and workshop leader for various theatre companies for children and young people throughout Japan, including Kazenoko Tohoku, Kyushu, Chubu and Hokkaido Theatre Companies. She also directed the large scale community production ‘The Radiance of Life” for the 100 year celebration Festival in Oketo. Following the Great East Japan Earthquake in 2011 she delivered drama workshops in schools within Fukushima Prefecture over a five year period for the Agency for Cultural Affairs. In the UK as a performer she was in King Lear at Bristol Old Vic and Hot Air at Tobacco Factory Theatres. She was Japanese movement consultant on Up Down Boy and delivered numerous workshops in movement for Bristol Old Vic and Myrtle Theatre Company. https://www.myrtletheatreco.com/participation-1 daily 0.75 2026-04-21 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69a57eb7ca2fdc7e5a0f8538/7e6b143c-7a3b-4324-8bcd-394901c21410/Mencap+Keynsham+1.png https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69a57eb7ca2fdc7e5a0f8538/5f426c4f-974a-422d-ae4e-05a9cf28c0af/Up+Down+Journey.jpeg https://www.myrtletheatreco.com/productions daily 0.75 2026-04-21 https://www.myrtletheatreco.com/productions/up-down-boy monthly 0.5 2026-04-21 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69a57eb7ca2fdc7e5a0f8538/9969fb11-b6fd-4716-933e-0351ca0a9117/thumbnail_857-228_UpDownBoy_BIG_creditGrahamBurke.jpg https://www.myrtletheatreco.com/productions/life-cycle-of-ivy monthly 0.5 2026-04-16 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69a57eb7ca2fdc7e5a0f8538/62c9b53f-888e-42d7-9ba1-41811e6b3bf2/894-078_TheLifeCycleOfIvy-rehearsal_PROOF.jpg https://www.myrtletheatreco.com/productions/jollity-farm monthly 0.5 2026-04-21 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69a57eb7ca2fdc7e5a0f8538/06590c3d-b1d1-4640-ac14-0de0b009e62b/746-020_JollityFarm_SmallPresentationFile.jpg https://www.myrtletheatreco.com/productions/house-of-letitia-smith monthly 0.5 2026-04-06 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69a57eb7ca2fdc7e5a0f8538/61411a88-41e6-470a-bec0-6da2f1a2a0e1/CIMG5051.JPG https://www.myrtletheatreco.com/productions/city-of-one monthly 0.5 2026-04-21 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69a57eb7ca2fdc7e5a0f8538/f5ef6b84-40bc-4323-8535-15f7c666a72a/651-135_CityOfOne-BIG_creditGrahamBurke+%281%29.jpg https://www.myrtletheatreco.com/productions/through-the-wire monthly 0.5 2026-04-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69a57eb7ca2fdc7e5a0f8538/3cb2671f-425a-4b45-bf26-1af8a46b9543/568-002_ThroughTheWire_WEB.jpg https://www.myrtletheatreco.com/productions/jump monthly 0.5 2026-04-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69a57eb7ca2fdc7e5a0f8538/5c98f2ef-100b-4c3b-b1dc-6e94971dc827/584-034_Myrtle_Jump-BIG_creditGrahamBurke.jpg https://www.myrtletheatreco.com/productions/up-down-man monthly 0.5 2026-04-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69a57eb7ca2fdc7e5a0f8538/07d7a934-a69e-4d57-9991-4dfd1483b628/Nathan+Bessell+in+Up+Down+Man+at+Salisbury+Playhouse+%28Credit+Richard+Davenport%29.jpg https://www.myrtletheatreco.com/productions/letter-to-thats-life monthly 0.5 2026-04-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69a57eb7ca2fdc7e5a0f8538/4164d7ac-8be8-40a3-9a4f-053e728bbc5b/934-147_ALetterToThatsLife_SMALL_creditGrahamBurke.jpg https://www.myrtletheatreco.com/productions/hot-air monthly 0.5 2026-04-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69a57eb7ca2fdc7e5a0f8538/317d2270-509f-4ccb-b951-b899a6ed6a2d/1055-343_HotAir_GrahamBurke_Fbook.jpg https://www.myrtletheatreco.com/-up-down-big-man daily 0.75 2026-05-28 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69a57eb7ca2fdc7e5a0f8538/ed4deee0-56d7-4f1e-ac37-2737a11891fa/updownbigman+final.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69a57eb7ca2fdc7e5a0f8538/7e053a46-9a14-4f98-a588-60539262e943/IMG_0998.jpg https://www.myrtletheatreco.com/-up-down-big-man/up-down-man monthly 0.5 2026-04-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69a57eb7ca2fdc7e5a0f8538/07d7a934-a69e-4d57-9991-4dfd1483b628/Nathan+Bessell+in+Up+Down+Man+at+Salisbury+Playhouse+%28Credit+Richard+Davenport%29.jpg https://www.myrtletheatreco.com/-up-down-big-man/up-down-boy-ld8xn monthly 0.5 2026-04-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/69a57eb7ca2fdc7e5a0f8538/04382797-9b09-4b60-a6da-c441283a8b2a/Up+Down+Boy+new.JPG