Ethan Taylor has been an important figure in the theatre scene in Brighton for eight years as a writer, performer and director with This Is My Theatre (TIMT) company. He’s also been a regular theatre reviewer for SOURCE. We caught up with him recently to hear about his next steps.

So, while Ethan will continue his work with TIMT, he will now be stepping back to focus on backstage work. That means he will be helping to produce shows and book tours. Meanwhile, to our loss, we’ll see less of him strutting the stage in venues across the south of England.

He first worked with TIMT in 2016 on a tour of A Christmas Carol where he played Jacob Marley and the Ghost of Christmas Present. He’s enjoyed performing with the company ever since.

For Ethan, the style and standard of the adaptations TIMT has pulled off – under the diligent and caring direction of Sarah Slator – has “interrogated and discovered the true heart and real sense of fun within the texts”. At the same time, he points to the work of Simon Stallard who, as resident company musical director, “applied his genius for crafting beautiful tunes that dance beneath the scenes”.

Ethan acknowledges that the casts he’s had the privilege of performing with have been extraordinary for being able to bring these productions to rural audiences and people who might not have easy access to theatre or live performance. Hence, for Ethan, “Working in a range of venues – from churches and coastal forts to cafes and cathedrals – has allowed us to develop some lovely relationships with the communities we have visited.”

“We have been very blessed with some fantastic performances over the years,” says Ethan, who finds it difficult to pick out the best shows he’s been involved with. Highlights include A Midsummer Night’s Dream on the summer solstice (within the ruins of a beautiful church in Suffolk) and The Railway Children in Chatham where a real steam engine (managed by a local volunteer group) was part of the show. In addition, he says performing Robin Hood in Sherwood Forest was “unforgettable!”

Meanwhile, Ethan has covered more than 35 shows for SOURCE over the years! His favourites include The Doctor with Juliet Stevenson, The Talent by Action Hero Theatre, and an amazing puppet-led adaptation of Moby Dick by Plexus Polaire.

While we might be able to twist his arm from time to time for more of his excellent reviews, Ethan is looking ahead to new adventures in theatre land. “It’s one step away from performing for now,” he says, with a wink in his eye, “but never say never!”