Much of Derek’s writing has been Applied Theatre, particularly Theatre-in-Education (TiE).

His play Off The Streets, was commissioned by the Welsh Assembly/Home Office Partnership Development Fund in 2001. It toured schools throughout Wales, playing to Year 9 pupils, and was revived for more national tours over the next four years.

Many more TiE commissions followed, for Years 9 and 10 pupils.

Derek also wrote and directed a short play with final year degree students from Glyndwr University on HIV/AIDS for UNESCO. This was performed at the Welsh Assembly, Cardiff, and in North Wales.

At the other end of the education scale, Derek worked with North-East Wales Dance as writer/director on a dance show – Swyrl-y-Tworld – for Key Stage 1 pupils.

Other Applied Theatre written and directed by Derek includes:

  • The Home Front, about safe-keeping for the elderly, commissioned by the NHS (2003)
  • Opening Doors For Strangers, about roles and demands in the Care industry, for the Lancashire Workforce Care Partnership (2009-11)
  • Family Fortunes, for Key Stage 2 pupils in Walton, Liverpool (2007)

He has also written plays specifically for young performers ranging from contemporary translations of Plautus comedies through adaptations of The Mabinogion and other traditional stories to original work. His play Our World Is In Colour has been produced several times, most notably by the Senior Youth Theatre of Clwyd Theatr Cymru.

Derek has about twenty years’ experience of teaching Drama, Creative Writing and other performing arts courses in Further and Higher Education, work he undertook while writing much of his work.

He has delivered bespoke practical workshops on Writing One-Person Plays, Introduction to Stanislavski’s System, Writing Theatre-in-Education Plays, and Introduction to Brecht. He has delivered workshops for several organisations, including Clwyd Theatr Cymru and Bedales School, Hampshire. He can still be booked for drama or playwriting classes/projects.

His short video introduction Brecht, can be found here

Derek holds a PCGE in Post-Compulsory Education (Level 7) from Edgehill University and an M.Phil (research degree) in Playwriting Studies from University of Birmingham.