Dick Bonham

Writer, Director, Performer

Dick is co-Artistic Director of PLaY and has worked in the arts for over ten years.

He studied English Literature and Theatre Studies at the University of Leeds.

For five years he was Artistic Director of Imprint Theatre Company. He began by directing an all-female version of Oh What A Lovely War for the Royal Armouries, and went on to direct all their major productions. He wrote a number of these, including Smoke & Mirrors (a large-scale installation using sound, light and performance), More Or Less Ourselves (a touring piece for theatres) and Dead of Night (contemporary Victorian ghost stories in site-specific locations). Their hugely successful series of installations for Leeds Light Night has been called “spectacular” (Leeds Guide) and “fantastic” (the BBC).

Dick also has extensive experience of creating work with young people. He has taught and led workshops about theatre practice and creative writing in a variety of settings, including The Arches, HM Prison Leeds, Caleb Alcohol and Drugs Service, and schools across Yorkshire.

Dick has written and edited material for publications and books, including the Stories from the Street series and theatre reviews for various publications.

He regularly works with The Carriageworks Theatre in Leeds, where he has been closely involved in the development of Emerge, a new work festival supporting the work of local emerging artists. He also works assisting the development of the programming and marketing strategies for the venue.

Dick currently sits on the board of Script Yorkshire.