BIOGRAPHY
Gareth is an English actor from Birmingham who decided to pursue his love of acting professionally after 20 years as a teacher. He recently graduated from the Brian Timoney Studio in London, and before that from the Birmingham Theatre School in 2013 where he was awarded a distinction.
Born in 1974, he grew up with his parents, a teacher from Wales and a homemaker from Birmingham, and two younger brothers. He did well at school and enjoyed out of school interests in Scouting, birdwatching and playing the piano. Despite enjoying the creative arts whilst at school, he had notions of becoming a vet and consequently dropped the more creative subjects to focus on science and maths. After failing to achieve the required grades for veterinary science, Gareth went to Charlotte Mason College in the Lake District to become a primary school teacher. Gareth studied outdoor education and enjoyed a variety of pursuits including walking, climbing, abseiling and canoeing.
Gareth was a primary school teacher for 20 years and is used to speaking and presenting to an audience. During that time, he produced and directed a number of school productions including versions of ‘The Lion King’ and ‘Finding Nemo’, for which he also wrote several songs. Gareth plays keyboards and guitar and has written songs for both schools and amateur dramatic groups. One song was also awarded a semi finalist position in the UK Songwriting Contest in 2006.
Gareth has also maintained his passion for the performing arts in his own time. A member of various amateur dramatic groups over the course of 20 years, he performed a number of lead roles varying from Mr Toad in ‘The Wind in the Willows’ and Edmund Blackadder in ‘Blackadder II’, which he also directed, to Daniel Caffey in ‘A Few Good Men’ and Paul Sheldon in ‘Misery’. He has performed in comedies, dramas, family shows, and pantomimes. More recently he played Fagin in ‘Oliver!’ for which he received critical acclaim and was nominated for a regional acting award. Gareth has co-written a pantomime and several interactive murder mystery plays. He also worked in hospital radio for a time, DJs on occasion and has helped run fund raising events such as quizzes and race nights.
Keen on the outdoors, Gareth enjoys walking, camping and the natural world though he admits to not getting out as much as he’d like.
Gareth has eclectic tastes in both music and tv and film. As a performer, he’s at home with a comedic character as he is with more dramatic roles. Versatile and introspective, he enjoys accents and playing with the ‘feel’ of a character. He particularly enjoys playing ambiguous characters or those with moral dilemmas as he also finds those the most interesting to watch.
