John Bassett

Experienced writer/actor/director working professionally for more than 30 years. I have created over 150 scripts and performances for a range if clients and venues including theatres, arts centres, village halls, museums and art galleries and libraries.

Clients have included The Everyman Theatre, The Science Museum, The V&A, The National Trust, Gloucestershire Archives, Gloucester Cathedral, Gloucester Waterways Museum and Stroud's Museum in the Park.

I have recently graduated with an MA in directing for stage and screen and have created a number of short films including The Guitar and community film Days of Hope - The Chartists in Stroud. With these films I wrote, directed and edited them.

I have run my own theatre company Spaniel in the Works for 20 years researching, creating and touring a diverse range of shows including family comedy Dark Tales of Gloucestershire, a punk juke box musical update if the Ragged Trousered Philanthropists entitled Nothing Changes and historical performances such as War in Mind looking at shell shock in World War One and The Fearless Navigator about Howard Blackburn who sailed the Atlantic with no fingers.

I also created a series of training performances for social workers, charities and local authorities on issues such as domestic and sexual abuse and self harm.

I have written story style guide books for English Heritage and most recently written and recorded audio posts for Cotswold Canals and Gloucester Waterways Museum.

I am also experienced running courses in screenwriting and performance and have directed community groups from organisations including Age UK to enable them to create works on issues relevant to themselves.