Billy was born in London, before moving to Swansea in South Wales where he now lives. He trained at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama.

Theatre credits include: A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Beauty and The Beast (Chapterhouse Theatre UK Tour), Snow White And The Seven Dwarves (Rainbow Valley Productions), The Taming Of The Shrew, BDS And The Faceless Ghost (White Horse Germany Tour), Chernobyl (Histoire Productions), Iniquity Camwedd (Princess Royal Theatre), Dick Whittington (Jermin Productions).

Audio credits include: Your Unfortunate Servants (The National Archives/Elephant Talk Theatre).

What was your favourite story as a child? 

My favourite story as a child was ‘The Tiger Who Came to Tea’. It was a book my mother would read to me all the time because I enjoyed it so much!

If you pretended to be an imaginary monster, what would they look like? 

My imaginary monster would have one gigantic eye with large furry paws and a long scaly green tail. He would also have a set of stripy wings to fly and a kind and clumsy personality.

What is your favourite thing to do in the snow?  

My favourite thing to do in the snow is to go sledding and making a giant snowball as tall as myself!

Hannah is from Wakefield and trained at East 15 Acting School on the Acting and Contemporary Theatre course.

This is Hannah’s first show with Tall Stories!

Theatre credits include: Kailey (Kala Sangam), A World Without Death (Displace Yourself), Conveniently Married (Parrabbola), My Grandma’s A Walrus (Southwark Playhouse), Earth to Kurt (Pleasance, The Space)

Other credits include: Just A Kiss (Web Series/Rural Media), Uber One (O Positive), TESCO (Epoch)

What have been your favourite projects to work on?  

Exciting stories that involve live music, clown, dance, puppetry, and magic. Shows such as A World Without Death and My Grandma’s A Walrus.

If you pretended to be an imaginary monster, what would they look like?

I would be very bendy with stretchable limbs so I could scare people from the other room.

What is your favourite thing to do in the snow?

Walk in the fresh snow making new footprints. Sledging! And trying (and failing) to win in a snowball fight.

Originally from Birmingham, Laura studied at East 15 on the BA Acting and Physical Theatre Course, graduating in 2024.

Credits whilst training include Requiem for Change (David Glass Ensemble), 13 O’Clock (East 15) and The Visit (East 15).

Laura is excited to be making her professional debut with Tall Stories.

If you pretended to be an imaginary monster, what would they look like?

I think I would be turquoise, small and very fluffy with big round eyes.

What was your favourite story as a child?

I loved ‘The Very Hungry Caterpillar’. I used to think that if I were to eat a lot of cake, I could also turn into a butterfly.

What is your favourite thing to do in the snow?

I love treading around in fresh snow and making footprint trails with my friends. The crunch is so satisfying!

Matt Llewellyn Smith is a Company Stage Manager who trained at Trinity College, Carmarthen gaining a First Class Degree in Theatre Design and Production.

Previous credits with Tall Stories: Emily Brown and the Thing (Birmingham Hippodrome, North America Tour) and The Gruffalo (Warwick Arts Centre).

Other theatre credits: Over 100 productions including Michael Morpurgo’s I Believe in Unicorns and Why the Whales Came (West End, UK Tours, Hong Kong and Singapore), Meet Pippi Longstocking (UK Tour), Paper Dolls, Ready Steady Go! and How to Hide a Lion (all Polka Theatre), We’re Going on a Bear Hunt (Little Angel Theatre and UK Tour) and ten productions with Angel Exit Theatre Company including Moonfleet and The Secret Garden (UK Tours).

What was your favourite story as a child?

I loved reading all the adventures of Enid Blyton’s “The Five Find-Outers”.

If you pretended to be an imaginary monster, what would they look like?

It would be as tall as a tree, have arms like an octopus, the mouth of a lion and blend into the background like a chameleon.

What is your favourite thing to do in the snow?

I love sledging! My last time was in Alaska and we didn’t have a proper sledge but used the lid from a plastic box! It worked and was great fun!

Say My Name: uh-LIV-ee-uh JAY-kuhbs

What do you like best about your job?

The people I get to work with. I’m lucky to be in a room with so many talented and creative people. It’s hard and physically demanding – but we laugh all the time and what could be better than that?!

What was your favourite story as a child?

I loved being read Mr Tickle by my dad. The anticipation of him tickling at the end was almost unbearable…

Why did you want to work in theatre?

I learn best through stories and am inspired by getting lost in a brilliant tale. To be part of making great stories come to life for a living is a real treat.

What have been your favourite projects to work on?

As a director, ‘The Smeds and The Smoos’, ‘The Snow Dragon’ and ‘The Snail and the Whale’; as a writer/performer, ‘Future Perfect’ (a show I performed with my then 10-year-old son).

What was your favourite story as a child?

‘Alice in Wonderland’ (for its nonsense and intelligence) and ‘Winnie the Pooh’ (for its silliness and philosophy).

Say My Name: I-la sh-or sounds like roar

What have been your favourite projects to work on?

I designed ‘Macbeth’ at Shakespeare’s Globe. It’s incredibly exciting to have 1600 people responding to work in that space! It’s raw and exciting!

What do you like best about your job?

I really enjoy how every day is different. From research and problem solving, to working creatively with the director, and being part of a team to create a show.

What have been your favourite projects to work on?

I’m very lucky to have worked on all sorts of projects, so it’s very hard to pick a favourite. But I did have a blast the first time I went to New York with Tall Stories!

What was your favourite story as a child?

My favourite story as a child was ‘The Wind in the Willows’, and it still is! One day I would like to light it on stage.

What have been your favourite projects to work on?

Not to be cheesy, but ALL of the Tall Stories shows that I’ve done the movement for are the most fun and collaborative and satisfying to create.

What do you like best about your job?

Playing games and dancing and laughing until I’m exhausted!

Say My Name: mah-tin rod-jez

What have been your favourite projects to work on?

One of my favourites was ‘Anything Goes’ at the Barbican, because it was the first proper theatre job I did after lockdown and so it felt like I was finally getting back to normal.

Why did you want to work in theatre?

I tried every single job in theatre and finally settled on costumes – I enjoy realising the designers’ drawings on stage. 2024 will mark 35 years of working in the costume industry.

What have been your favourite projects to work on?

We’ve enjoyed all of the shows we’ve worked on with Tall Stories but I think our favourite experience was working with actor-musicians, devising songs and music for ‘Wilde Creatures’ and ’The Canterville Ghost’.

What was your favourite story as a child?

Jon’s favourite story as a child was ‘Peter and the Wolf’ (although it terrified him!) and Andy’s was ‘The Adventures of the Little Wooden Horse’.