Katherine Senior, touring theatre company co-founder and actress, names those who have inspired her most.
Peter Mimms
My first venture into theatre was when my best friend and I roller-skated our way into our local village hall where a room brimming with people of the older persuasion were sitting in a circle reading a play. I was totally sucked in to the magic of it all and although they looked like a bunch of crusty old people to a 13-year-old, they were headed by a true gentleman. Peter Mimms approached the rehearsals with such professionalism and creativity that has stuck with me my whole career. His drive to ensure the running of the show was smooth – one might say regimented – has instilled me with the desire to take care of the details even now. I stayed with him and the group for 10 years until they all bullied me in to taking it up professionally. He taught me how to entertain, not how to show off. He never knew I got in to drama school, as he died of a brain tumour a few months before, but his ideas are with me to this day.
Arthur Senior – my Dad
Running a theatre company was not something I dreamed of. I had toured as an actor in productions I was not proud of, and I wanted to be part of productions that were top quality and full of integrity. Once we had assembled the team for Creative Cow, the road ahead would have been much harder had I not had my Dad to fuel me with advice on how to run a business. He is a heating engineer and has no interest whatsoever in theatre but the template to run a successful business is fairly similar. He built his business up from nothing and was good at what he did. He was hands on, never asked anyone to do anything that he wouldn’t do himself, and when the recession hit twice in his company’s life span, he kept his men on despite not earning the income to pay their wages. His tenacity and drive to create a company of integrity which is now one of the most respected on the south coast encourages me in my endeavours.
Matthew Parish and Amanda Knott
Matthew and Amanda are co-founders of Creative Cow. Matthew’s analytical and logistical mind and Amanda’s creative eye marry very well and have created the company we have. Matthew has a bottomless pot of positivity which is paramount in this business because when doubt and pessimism step in you are fighting a losing battle. Amanda creates the ‘puddings’ and that is where our ‘proof’ is; from starting out in a pub in Exeter and growing into a company that now tours to number one venues across the UK, we haven’t had to do much begging. Theatres ask us back because Amanda knows how to put on the show and Matthew has the charm and tenacity that a tour booker and manager needs.
Brian Kirk
Over the past five years we have built a strong relationship with Guildford’s Yvonne Arnaud Theatre and its General Manager Brian Kirk. He championed our work when we started out in the studio and after the success of ‘The Rivals’ we made our way to the main stage. Brian is always available to talk to about casting and contacts and answer our most difficult questions in a phone call. His endorsement has paved the way to exciting venues across the country. Keeping an unfunded theatre company going is difficult, not just financially but in spirit too. To have a leading professional give so much support and praise encourages you to continue even in hard times.
Jennifer Saunders/ Tamsin Greig/ Victoria Wood / Celia Imrie
I grew up watching a lot of comedic female actresses and they certainly had an influence on me. The ability to make people laugh is a great tool. These actresses find the humour and wit, rather than the misery, which connects with the audience every time. I learnt from them that finding the humour in any character you take on is a must. It gives the character a humility that is most appealing.
Katherine Senior is co-founder of touring theatre company Creative Cow, who are currently touring a new production of Shakespeare’s ‘Merry Wives of Windsor’.