{"id":4509,"date":"2016-08-21T18:28:04","date_gmt":"2016-08-21T18:28:04","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.katewilloughby.co.uk\/?page_id=4509"},"modified":"2025-11-16T22:24:15","modified_gmt":"2025-11-16T22:24:15","slug":"about","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.katewilloughby.co.uk\/?page_id=4509","title":{"rendered":"About"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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.Twitter<\/span><\/b><\/a><\/span> | Instagram<\/b><\/a> | Email<\/b><\/a><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I\u2019m an actor<\/strong><\/span>, writer<\/strong><\/span>, trainer <\/strong><\/span>and part-time suffragette<\/strong><\/span> with a passion for creating, performing and sharing stories from the heart that empower<\/span><\/strong>, educate<\/strong> <\/span>and entertain<\/span><\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you share these values and are looking for a range of inspiring events, immersive productions, talks and workshops, see how I can help<\/strong><\/a><\/span> you and let’s talk!<\/strong><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

By telling the stories of Ordinary<\/strong><\/span>, Brave <\/strong><\/span>and Extraordinary women<\/strong><\/span> and focusing on what we share in common, I believe we can learn from these women and from each other. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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For as long as I can remember, <\/em>
I have always created stories and performed them<\/em>.
– Kate Willoughby<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When I was a little girl my wonderful Mum was both encouraging and patient. After she finally tired of an almost endless cascade of imaginings, my teddies proved to be an attentive audience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The writing subsided for a number of years as I focused on acting, in community productions, including the York Cycle of Mystery Plays, at university, as well as a stint at Disneyland Paris before going to RSAMD (now the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland<\/a><\/strong><\/span>) in Glasgow (a city that still inspires me and always feels like home).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It was whilst at RSAMD that director Andrew McKinnon<\/strong><\/span> encouraged me to develop my writing alongside performance skills. It proved to be a step change and I’ll always be grateful to him for that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Meisner was then added to the acting mix thanks in large part to Scott Williams<\/a><\/strong><\/span> and more recently Kate Maravan<\/a><\/strong><\/span>, alongside writing. Women who dared to take on the Establishment became my focus. I wrote about prison reformer Elizabeth Fry (A Fiver’s Worth of Courage<\/a><\/strong><\/span>) and then suffragette Emily Wilding Davison (To Freedom’s Cause<\/a><\/strong><\/span>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For the last couple of years I have focused on campaign work with #Emilymatters<\/a><\/strong><\/span>, which began with a special performance of To Freedom’s Cause<\/a><\/strong><\/span> at the House of Commons, directed by the late Brian Astbury<\/a><\/strong><\/span>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The drive behind combining creativity and campaigning remains a central part of what I do. From pop-up performances<\/strong><\/span> to hyper local community projects<\/strong><\/span>, wellbeing, a greater sense of belonging and having your voice heard run through my work. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It matters to me that we move away from the manufactured division generated in much of our politics and media and instead move towards building greater understanding<\/strong> and compassion<\/strong><\/span> for ourselves, our communities and for those we may never meet but with whom we share this planet we all call home<\/strong><\/span>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I am a proud member of both Equity UK<\/a><\/strong><\/span> and the Writers’ Guild of Great Britain (WGGB)<\/a><\/strong><\/span>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

See the WGGB<\/a><\/strong><\/span> website to read more about what first inspired my writing and what continues to kindle the flames of creativity in their ‘My Life As A Writer<\/a><\/strong><\/span>‘ feature.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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ON WRITING & PROJECTS<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n

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Whilst my interest in amplifying women’s voices and stories continues, through my #Emilymatters<\/span><\/strong> initiative and Phenomenal Women<\/strong><\/span> project, I have also been developing a range of children’s stories, inspired by nature and world events.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

On the surface, these may seem to be far removed from my suffragette Emily Davison inspired work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, these new ventures still hold true to my love of creating and sharing stories that matter with the power to ignite a delicious crackle of delight, mutual understanding and nurturing hope, for good.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Empowering women and young people to use their voice and be heard continues, as an invisible thread through out my creative endeavours.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Something I am particularly proud of is my connection to both rural and urban communities, from North Yorkshire to City of London. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

To date, I have premiered the majority of my work in Yorkshire and so it was a great pleasure to give the first reading my new tale ‘Paws For Thought’<\/strong> at Leyburn Community Library<\/a> in January 2023. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It was such a lovely morning and my thanks go to all the team at the library for making it happen and for including some lovely accompanying creative activities for the children. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The curiosity, creativity and compassion shown by the young participants gives me great hope for the future. The future is bright and community libraries play a vital role in inspiring young (and older!) minds.  <\/p>\n\n\n

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‘Paws for thought’ By Kate Willoughby<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n
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Lovely Storytime enjoyed by all. Particularly liked the visuals! … Really liked the use of vocabulary. My family are bookworms!<\/em>
\u2014 Librarian & participant comments from ‘Paws for thought’ at Leyburn Community Library’s Storytime, 21st January 2023<\/p>\n\n\n\n

During the 2020 Lockdowns I developed three new projects<\/strong><\/span>: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lockdown<\/span> Project #1
<\/strong><\/span>During the Covid-19 lockdown<\/strong>, I wrote and produced a short online drama that highlighted domestic abuse and disability. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It was the evidence given by Dame Vera Baird QC<\/strong><\/span>, the Victims’ Commissioner for England & Wales, to the Home Affairs Select Committee, which inspired me to write.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She highlighted a surge in suspected domestic abuse killings in the UK that inspired me to write and referred to findings made by campaigner Karen Ingala Smith<\/strong>‘s pioneering work<\/span><\/span>:<\/p>\n\n\n

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Counting Dead Women has got to a total of 16 domestic abuse killings in the last three weeks. We usually say there are two a week, that looks to me like five a week, that\u2019s the size of this crisis.<\/em>
\u2014 Dame Vera Baird QC, Victims\u2019 commissioner for England &Wales<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She added that we need to be creative in our thinking and response.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In my response to Dame Vera, I hope I can help to amplify the urgent message that you are not alone and that help is there for you right now.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Working with a committed cast from the UK and USA<\/strong><\/span>, I developed a short screenplay, which had a series of online performances. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is a project that I am keen to further develop, as the issues it explores sadly continue. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lockdown Project<\/span> #2
<\/strong><\/span>During the autumn of 2020, Culture Mile<\/strong><\/a><\/span> launched their Imagine Fund<\/strong><\/span><\/a>. I was excited to be one of ten applicants to receive a micro grant for my project, Lockdown Fuels Positive Creativity: What’s inspired YOU during Lockdown?<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I asked local residents<\/strong><\/span> to reflect on what helped them through this year, collecting their responses in a digital gallery<\/strong><\/span><\/a>. I worked with actress-poet Natasha Anne Kelleher<\/strong><\/a><\/span> who wrote ‘UNLOCKED UNLEASHED UNABATED<\/strong><\/span>‘, an evocative poem<\/strong> <\/span><\/a>in response to the submissions, which was published by Barbican Life<\/strong><\/a><\/span> magazine. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lockdown Project #3
<\/span><\/strong>Much of my work to date has been inspired by real people, real life and more recently by the wild neighbours with whom I share my local area.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The local Mallards, Moorhens and other wildfowl continue to give me peace of mind and a sense of joy. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The stories they have inspired, which I am currently working on, are an extension of the micro stories I first began with #weetales<\/strong><\/span>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ongoing Creative Melting Pot <\/strong><\/span>(inspired by Brian Astbury)
#weetales<\/strong><\/span> are a way for me to write in flow for 15 minutes. I love seeing what short stories bubble up in a condensed amount of time. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Inspired by the work of the late, great Brian Astbury<\/strong><\/span>, whose workshops and book ‘Everyone Can Write<\/strong><\/span><\/a>‘ I continue to use this simple timed exercise to spark ideas and to vanquish any fear of a blank page.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I love Brian’s commitment to craft and lack of deference to any Establishment constrictions. He had a heart of gold and a knack for drawing out the best in you. He truly was one of a kind. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Glasgow 
<\/strong><\/span>As previously mentioned, Glasgow<\/strong> <\/span>has played a major role in my creative inspiration. This great city and its people continue to influence and reinvigorate my work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I was born in Yorkshire and made in Glasgow. It’s a city I’ll always call home. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thanks to Covid, it’s a been some time since I’ve been back, but very much looking forward to my next visit!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\"Kate<\/a>
Examples of Kate Willoughby’s creative outreach work. Including the UK House of Commons performance, to speaking engagements and community projects. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n
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\"WGGB<\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

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\"Equity<\/figure><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n
\"Twitter\"\/<\/a>\"LinkedIn\"\/<\/a>\"Share\"\/<\/a><\/div><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

.Twitter | Instagram | Email I\u2019m an actor, writer, trainer and part-time suffragette with a passion for creating, performing and sharing stories from the heart that empower, educate and entertain. If you share these values and are looking for a range of inspiring events, immersive productions, talks and workshops, see how I can help you and let’s talk! By telling the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.katewilloughby.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/4509"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.katewilloughby.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.katewilloughby.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.katewilloughby.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.katewilloughby.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=4509"}],"version-history":[{"count":54,"href":"https:\/\/www.katewilloughby.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/4509\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6539,"href":"https:\/\/www.katewilloughby.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/4509\/revisions\/6539"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.katewilloughby.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=4509"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}