About
Out Of Character

Hello! Welcome to our theatre company!

We have devised, written, performed and collaborated on many projects both in York and nationally. Some of our work is about mental health, but not everything. We’ve created very personal pieces specifically for audiences interested in mental illness; we’ve devised site-specific durational performances; we’ve performed scripted works; and we’ve collaborated with York Theatre Royal, Intar, Love Arts, Arts & Minds, the Wy-Fi project, the NHS, and many medical schools and universities.

The company grew from an inspiring initiative at York St. John University to provide introductory theatre courses to mental health service users. The course was initially led by Nick Rowe with support from York St. John students and focussed on arts practice rather than health. It formed the basis for Converge, an initiative established by Nick Rowe and Gemma Alldred, which now includes courses in dance, music, choir singing, writing and art. In 2013 Converge received national recognition by being shortlisted in the Times Higher Education Awards.

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Out of Character was awarded the Excellence in Equality and Cultural Diversity Prize at the York Culture Awards in 2018.

Find out more...

Each year we receive a number of enquiries about our work from students and other interested individuals. Please find our responses to the questions we’ve been asked in the past here.

If you have other questions or would like additional information, we will try and respond to your request as quickly as we can.

Creative Team

Jane Allanach

Associate Director

Kate Veysey

Artistic Director

Hannah Munro

Assistant Director

Kate Veysey

our Artistic Director

Hannah Munro

My journey to joining OOC began in 2019 when I embarked on my Applied Theatre MA at York St John University. I began as a student volunteer, went on to become company administrator and then finally Assistant Director.

In my previous lives I’ve been a primary teacher, university lecturer, local village panto director and sometime amateur actor. Being part of Out of Character is never dull, always surprising and hugely rewarding.

Jane Allanach

Jane Allanach has worked with Out of Character since 2010, first as a volunteer, and then as Artistic Director of their sister group, In the Moment. When the two groups merged in 2022 Jane became Out of Character’s Associate Director.

Jane is also a tutor with Converge and teaches on the Introduction to Theatre, and Working towards Performance Courses which run each year.

Jane has trained with York St John University, Red Ladder: Red Grit, Both Feet Actor Training and The Actors Space Barcelona.

Jane has performed numerous community theatre roles in Leeds and York, and devised and directed multiple theatre pieces, including two films: This Gift Comes with Side AEffects and an artistic response to Converge’s Evaluation Project.

Juliet Forster

Chair of Trustees

Juliet Forster is Creative Director for York Theatre Royal. Her career in the theatre has been varied; from creating a theatre company, directing on national tours, lecturing and writing original work. Juliet often supports Out Of Character by lending her theatre expertise to productions.

Trustees

Professor Nick Rowe

Treasurer

Nick is the founder of Converge out of which Out of Character developed. Nick says 'Engaging in theatre has made a valuable impact in my life and so I love being part of Out of Character, supporting its development and celebrating its remarkable work.'

Matt Harper-Hardcastle

Vice Chair

I am a Theatre-Maker in its broadest sense - A Youth Theatre Practitioner for York Theatre Royal, an acting member of Playback Theatre York, and the Founder and Artistic Director of Next Door But One.

After being a supporter of Out of Charter since its inception, I was honoured to join its board of trustees; to support more people to engage in theatre, to showcase the fantastic work the company create and overall be the loudest applause that Out of Character deserve!

Christie Barnes

Christie has been a part of many theatre community productions including providing movement direction for the Wagon Plays in York. And more recently Movement Captain for The Coppergate Woman. Christie has worked with Del Dance Theatre producing work for young audiences in the North of England.

For several years, Christie has been the Converge dance tutor. She currently works for Katie Ventress School of Dance and Northern Dance Academy. Christie runs private choreography lessons and choreography workshop days for adults in York. Recently choreographing a perfomance for adult dancers in York.

Simon Newton

Simon started his career in publishing. He then became Deputy Director of Communications at the Open University.

Moving to York with his young family, he joined the University of York as Director of Enterprise and Innovation and then York St John University as Head of Partnerships.

He loves listening to live jazz.