MISSION STATEMENT
WHERE STORIES BEGIN
In a world doing the same things again and again, we take things in a new direction. Dedicated to new stories and those who write them, we're here to take the risks other don't dare. That's what makes life exciting.
We span stage and screen, emerging and established artists, and prioritise national reach. We produce work to exacting standards, and don't settle for anything less.
MANCHESTER BORN. MANCHESTER BASED.
When first sending scripts out to theatres, we noticed everything was going to one city: London. We thought that should change.
Cloudburst exists to be a new-writing engine, that develops work with National reach, whilst being firmly rooted in Manchester. It's where our work starts, it's where our work is developed.
We take the city's electric, rebellious spirit, and apply it to everything we do.
It's our home, and we're proud of it.
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Patrick Swain
CO-DIRECTOR & LEAD PRODUCER
Patrick is an award-winning producer, director, dramaturg, and writer. He oversees Cloudburst's Marketing, having run marketing campaigns with Arcola Theatre, NSDF, Park Theatre, Kings Head Theatre, Southwark Playhouse, and The Watermill Theatre.
He heads up Cloudburst's film department, having started making films at age 7. His latest project, Petrol Head, is now on the festival circuit.
He was a member of the National Theatre's Young Writers Group, and in 2022 was selected to join the Hampstead Theatre's Inspire Program. His web series Garry Sullivan's Bohemian Utopia was selected for the British Comedy Guide. His work has been shortlisted by the BFI, the Bush, the National Theatre, and The Papatango Prize for Playwriting.
Lotty Holder
CO-DIRECTOR & LEAD PRODUCER
Lotty is a producer and playwright specialising in new work for the stage. During her career so far she has won the the André Ptaszynski Prize for Producing and the Off West End award for Best Audio drama for her original play Red Breast. She is the cofounder and Head of Theatre at Cloudburst Productions as well as the co founder of Flood Artist Development.
She has previously worked for organisations including The Original Theatre Company, Farnham Maltings, NSDF and Chronic Insanity. She regularly teaches producing & project management on a variety of university courses across the UK.
Ben Middleton
ASSISTANT PRODUCER
Ben is a Producer originally from the North of England. He graduated from the University of York’s theatre BA programme and is currently studying Creative Producing at the Royal Central School of Speech of Drama. He focusses his work on the development of new writing for the stage as well as being interested in plays with music.
He has previously worked for the Lowry in Salford on their We Invented The Weekend festival as well as with York based theatre company Four Wheel Drive. He also has gained media experience with Buzz16 Productions on the critically acclaimed The Overlap.
Emilia Hargreaves
PRODUCTION COORDINATOR
Emilia trained as an actor at East 15 and Guildford School of Acting, where she founded and produced GSA Labs, a series of scratch nights for emerging artists.
She is the Auditions Manager for The Drake Calleja Trust and has worked as the Programming Assistant at The Pleasance and Assistant Talent Development Producer at Boundless Theatre, where she also sits on the Advisory Board.
She was Trainee Producer & Production Assistant with Cloudburst on Radiant Boy at Southwark Playhouse, and is now Cloudburst's Production Coordinator. She is passionate about developing new work, creating accessible opportunities, and supporting the next generation of theatre-makers.
OUR TEAM
Our team of dedicated creatives push the work, push each other, and push Cloudburst to constantly find new ways to take bigger and bolder steps forward.