Time After Time: Creative team

Darren Cheek is an actor, director, writer, teacher and dramaturg. He co-founded Damn Cheek in 2013 with the aim of encouraging and supporting individual and community involvement in theatre.

Darren himself found his theatre vocation through being fortunate enough to have the love, support, encouragement and direction of his secondary school drama teacher – and, as such, he is a passionate advocate of this kind of ripple effect.

For more than 25 years, Darren has performed both main and supporting acting roles with many of the UK’s leading regional theatres, on the national touring circuit, and at several West End theatres. Over the years he has appeared regularly in film and on television.

Before founding and becoming Artistic Director of Damn Cheek, Darren was Associate Director of Krazy Kat Theatre Company. A fluent British Sign Language user, he toured regularly in Krazy Kat Theatre Company’s sign-integrated productions between 2000 and 2011. He has also worked as Associate Director for theatre companies UnFit Productions, YCT and Kipper Tie.

Since 1997, Darren has been actively involved in the writing and development of many original plays and adaptations.

He is an experienced trainer, role-player, presenter and facilitator in both public and corporate, national and international settings, including NHS Trusts, BBC Academy and the National Bank of Pakistan. He is also a fully qualified individual, relationship and group psychotherapist.

Willie Elliott has performed with Gay Sweatshop, Red Shift and the Northcott Theatre Exeter, and for over 10 years was resident Pantomime Dame at the Everyman Theatre in Cheltenham.

He has extensive experience as an actor–director and facilitator in Theatre for Children, Theatre for Young People and Theatre in Education. For 11 years he was Associate Artist at Theatre Centre London, developing professional theatre for young audiences.

Willie also works as an audio describer and now trains describers across the globe. Currently part of the audio description team at the National Theatre, he also provides audio introductions for the Royal Opera House, the Royal Ballet and English National Opera. He described the opening ceremony of the 2012 Paralympic Games and the Sochi Winter Paralympics for Channel 4.

Willie has actively contributed to Damn Cheek since its early days and now brings his expertise and experience in Education, Children’s and Young People’s Theatre to support Damn Cheek’s work in these areas.

Brendan has written and performed for Damn Cheek many times over the years. Most recently, Damn Cheek toured Brendan’s play Monday’s Child to primary schools in Gateshead.

Originally from Manchester, Brendan trained and worked as an actor before turning to teaching, writing and directing.

Over the past 45 years he’s taught regularly at several of the UK’s leading drama schools. His plays – particularly those for young audiences – have been performed around the world.

His work as a director has included productions in regional Rep, on the national touring circuit and across the London Fringe.

Like the good northerner he is, he lives on the south coast and you can find out more about him on his website.