Good knowledge of the contemporary theatre scene. I purposely seek out new shows by emerging companies or established theatres to keep up to date with theatrical developments. When I am unable to attend a promising show, I will endeavour to purchase the script. I attend the Edinburgh and Brighton Fringes in order to experience new shows before they come to London, as well.

Good knowledge of film and television. As above, I seek out film festivals to catch new movies early or and to find indie projects and exciting shorts. I make a concerted effort to watch films and television series of all kinds, even ones I know to be poorly made, as I believe I can learn from the greats and from other people’s mistakes.

Historical research skills. My BA degree is in History. I was trained to do academic research and my attention to detail means that I will go to great lengths to fully understand the context of a particular time or event. My fastidious research not only means my historical scripts are accurate and immersive, it also means that I am able to present unexpected angles and facts that challenge popular perceptions of particular time periods.

Understanding of the commissioning process. I have written work on commission for governmental bodies and found it to be a very satisfying experience, as I was able to fulfil their requirements while injecting my own flavour into the finished product.