Filming of ‘Laid Off’ went extremely well and the project is now in post-production. I will post further updates on the progress of this film as and when I have them.

I recently worked as an assistant director as part of The Festival of the Imagination. Working with a cast of 17 young people, aged 11-15 years to devise a piece of theatre based around the theme of, ‘imagination’. This project headlined the largest arts festival in North Glasgow (Festival of the Imagination). Incorporating physical theatre and text, we devised the initial structure of the project and then incorporated all the major performance elements. Participants embarked on a mammoth task of creating a full scale production with the aim of reaching a professional standard. The festival ran for 5 days with ‘Figment’ having 6 performances. This was an extremely motivational project that gave the young people complete ownership of ideas and brought some creativity to the residents of North Glasgow.

I am now filming the feature length project LAID OFF with director Zam Salim. I am playing the role of Cheryl. This is looking set to be a very exciting project and I will update with further details as and when I have them.

The short film 'Native Son' - a Brocken Spectre production, produced by David Smith, directed by Scott Graham, with music by Sons & Daughters, in which I starred alongside Kate Dickie and Sean Harris has reached CANNES!

Please visit: Semaine de la Critique du festival de Cannes

For the last month I have been touring Stirling and the surrounding area's with INTER-ACT's revival of GONE, an alcohol education project working with 12-13yr olds. Using drama as a tool for learning and awareness, the project was so successful last year that it was taken up again last month. Featuring a whole new cast, aside from myself and re-devised with more drama and stronger workshop facilitation, GONE proved to be a great success once again.


Thanks to director Mary Scott Watson and the entire cast, as well as the lovely high school students and faculty members who all welcomed us graciously.
















As Carly in 'GONE' with priority list from workshop.

Grace Dent at The Guardian wrote a lovely review of Burnistoun, in it she asked the following question:


"BBC 2's terrific new sitcom Burnistoun is inextricably tied to its Glaswegian setting - but why is that a reason not to show it outside Scotland?"


Read the full interview via this link: Burnistoun Review

I have now posted the official trailer of WHEN THE BOUGH BREAKS in the 'media' section of this site. The film was well received at its recent screening at The Film House in Edinburgh and is now being entered into various festivals. I will, of course keep you updated on its progress.


Also, watch out for a new showreel being posted up in the 'media' section soon, which will feature footage from the film as well as footage from Burnistoun and other recent projects.


HAPPY VIEWING!!!

Burnistioun has blasted onto Scottish screens to rave reviews. The first episode went out on Monday, 1st March on BBC 2 and the feedback has been fantastic. The boys have also had some great press coverage in the run up to the show being televised.


Links to articles and public opinion:

The Sun
The Herald

Digital Spy
Twitter
Facebook Fan Page

Burnistoun has a repeat of each episode on Saturday nights on BBC 2 Scotland at 10.45pm and can also be viewed on BBC iPlayer.

The next new episode is on Monday 8th March at 10pm on BBC 2 Scotland.

It seems like happy viewing is being had by all!!

The Burnistoun boys were chattin' to Janice Forsyth on that there wireless on Wednesday, 24^th February and wee Kirsty got a mention! Great interview with Iain Connell and Robert Florence...starting at about 2.20 on the iPlayer with a mention of yours truly at about 11.41...

Link: RADIO CAFE

A nice wee bit of praise from Janice and the boys. Burnistoun looks set to please the masses. I’m sure you will enjoy it when it reaches your living room on March 1^st!

Taking a side step away from work for a moment to post some news about a very important cause that is extremely close to my heart.

I am taking part in this year’s RACE FOR LIFE and I would be grateful if you would visit my sponsorship page and read all about this wonderful charity and my own personal reasons for contributing. If you could see it in your heart to sponsor me…every little helps and even the smallest amount would go a long way…I would be extremely grateful.

With Thanks!

Readers of the Daily Star newspaper would have been entertained by the article on page 11. The headline being...

“COMEDY DUO OUT TO FILL THE FAT GAP”

This is of course highlighting the obvious comparison to that wonderful sketch show, ‘Chewin the Fat’, with Ford Kiernan and Greg Hemphill.

Burnistoun writer, Robert Florence was quoted as saying, “If we come over half as well as Ford and Greg did, we will be delighted”.

Images within the article showed some of the character’s that audiences can look forward to, including girlband wannabe Kelly McGlade and her bandmates, Emma (played by actress Louise Stewart) and Carly (played by yours truly…eh me…ha ha).

This was a nice wee bit of publicity for the show and it’s sure to pull in a crowd of viewers who will no doubt love the programme.

Burnistoun Tx Date is as follows:

Monday, 1st March at 10pm: BBC 2 Scotland (sky channel 990)

Repeated: Saturday, 6^th March at 11pm: BBC 2 Scotland (sky channel 990)

There will be 6 consecutive weekly episodes with the opportunity to view or catch up on BBCi Player.

HAPPY, FUN-FILLED VIEWING!!

It looks like I will be working on the INTER-ACT project, ‘Gone’ which I did last year. The project was so successful last year that it is being revived in March of this year. I will have more details on the project in the coming weeks and am very pleased to be undertaking the role of Carly again and to be involved in this fantastic educational project.

I am very pleased to report that the Burnistoun Audience Reaction Screenings went well. There was a hugely positive response with a lot of laughs and encouragement. It’s clear that there is plenty of material to make Burnistoun a fabulous success with six very funny and enjoyable episodes. It looks likely that the show will appear on BBC 2 Scotland (sky channel 990), with availability for viewing on BBCi player sometime around the end of this month (February) or beginning of March. As soon as I have an official date and time slot I will update the site.

What a fantastic thing to look forward to!

There are forthcoming screenings for recent projects which have been completed. The first of which will be Burnistoun Audience Reaction Screenings on the 20^th, 22^nd and 25^th January at the Odeon, Springfield Quay in Glasgow at 7pm. For tickets, please visit: The Comedy Unit

Burnistoun Herald Team

The other screening will be of, ‘When The Bough Breaks’, which completed filming in September. This will take place at the Film House in Edinburgh on the 27^th February at 11am.

When The Bough Breaks

I am very much looking forward to seeing both of these and to catching up with all involved!

Both Robert Florence and Iain Connell were fantastic to work with as was the series director, Noddy "Iain" Davidson and all the cast and crew. I’m very much looking forward to seeing it when it appears on BBC 2 in March. As soon as I have exact details of the programme’s schedule, I will update with that information here.

I have now been cast as the female lead in a new comedy TV series at The Comedy Unit for BBC Scotland. This programme will feature its writers, Iain Connell and Robert Florence

I am looking forward to filming which begins in November and will of course update with more information as to when this will be televised.

Filming has now wrapped on SIX MAGIC NUMBERS: PROMOTIONAL TRAILER, which will be available to view on the new website in November. In the meantime you can view a music preview and all details of the project via the following link:

Six Magic Numbers Website

Filming has also wrapped on NATIVE SON and WHEN THE BOUGH BREAKS. This was an intensive back to back film schedule but extremely worthwhile. I am excited to see the final edit on both films and I'm sure both will go on to be very well received. I will indeed update with more information on these projects as and when I have it.

You can see some production stills and behind the scenes images in the 'Performance Gallery' and 'Additional Images Gallery' on this site.

I have now been cast in the short film, Native Son, written and directed by Scott Graham. The film will begin shooting in late September and I will be working alongside the actor Sean Harris (The Red Riding Trilogy, Waking the Dead). This is a marvellous opportunity, with a beautifully written script and I am looking forward to working on this project.

For more information please visit:

Six Magic Numbers: Facebook Group

I will be working on the short film, 'When the Bough Breaks', in late September; playing the role of Sarah, a recently bereaved wife and mother. However, all is not as it seems in this intensely written atmospheric drama. The film is written and directed by Gareth Peevers.

Link: Gareth Peevers

I am pleased to announce that I have recently signed with The Model Team and am featured on their commercial board. The Model Team is known for attracting the best models, creative talent and clients for 40 years....As Scotland's first modelling agency, they are determined to keep The Model Team on the map, not just in Scotland, but internationally. I am delighted to have their representation and support.

Link: Kirsty @ Model Team

The episode of Taggart, 'So Long, Baby', in which I played the role of Lisa Corrie, was shown on ITV1 on Sunday 19^th July and STV on Monday 20^th July to what I am pleased to say was a most favoured response. I really appreciated the opportunity to be involved in such a highly noted and well loved programme and feel I gained a great deal from the experience. Everyone involved in the making of this programme was extremely welcoming and supportive and it was great to be involved in the 99^th episode and feel a part of the build up to the show's 25^th anniversary. I give particular thanks to Morag Fullarton, John Michie, Michelle Fairley and Hugo Speer.

It is my hope that Taggart will continue and more episodes of this great Scottish programme will be commissioned.

Link to episode guide: "THERE'S BEEN A MURDER!"

I recently participated in the 48 Hour Film Project, which is a wild and sleepless weekend in which you and a team make a movie—write, shoot, edit and score it—in just 48 hours.

On Friday night, you get a character, a prop, a line of dialogue and a genre, all to include in your movie. 48 hours later, the movie must be complete. Then it will show at a local cinema, usually in the next week.

In 2008, some 30,000 filmmakers made films in 70 cities and this year I took part in Edinburgh.

It was quite an experience and my team and I are pleased with the results. Although we didn't make the competition deadline, we were in time to have our film screened this evening at The Cameo Cinema in Edinburgh along with the other movies. We do feel that our film stands as a great piece of work, while fitting the requirements set by the project, so much so that we might enter a refined edit into festivals.

You can view the rough cut that will be screened tonight via You Tube.

Kudos to Steve Butler, Graham Maule, Geoffrey Stevenson, Kathryn Heyman, Brian Fischbacher, Brian Cope, Jo Love, GJ Stevenson, Judith Stevenson, Anne Butler et al. Not forgetting Charlie....The Entire Population of China.

Production stills can be found in the Additional Images gallery!

SKILL UP is Promote YT's annual training and networking conference for all sectors that have a stake in youth performing arts and is the biggest event of its kind for Scotland.  It endeavours to provide a broad range of quality training experiences that appeals to all levels, skills and abilities, as it is their vision to set a benchmark of practice development that participants will aim to deliver to their young people. Within this framework, I was able to discover new and innovative methods of practice and engage in activities which enhanced my technique and approach to workshop delivery and performance. It also reaffirmed my current approach and I found the skills share workshop with other practitioners particularly useful.

Photographer: Camilla Adams

I am currently working on a Theatre in Education project for INTER-ACT. The aim of this organisation is to assist young people in Forth Valley in their transition through adolescence to early adulthood, with a particular focus on the social and emotional aspects of health and development.

Through the use of a balanced combination of drama and workshop facilitation, the current project has devised an interactive piece, entitled 'Gone', which focuses on Alcohol use amongst teens. The project looks at four teenagers as they make their way through high school, depicting their experiences of social interaction and peer pressure. The students have the opportunity to try and predict which of the characters will be 'Gone' by the end of S3. One of the advantages of this project is that our characters age throughout the process and the students gain a real insight into their development.

I am portraying the role of Carly who is one of the four teenagers making their way through high school.

The short film, All of Me, that I filmed last year featured in the Clermont-Ferrand short film festival during January 30th-February 7th 2009. This is wonderful exposure for this beautiful film.

All of Me

See the card

I have just completed a new voice over reel which includes commercial, narration and an accent montage. This reel was completed and edited by David Goodall at Soundsmove and can be heard here on my website in the 'media' section. It will also be added to my Spotlight CV. I am extremely pleased with the results and hope you are too.

HAPPY LISTENING!

I am currently filming for Taggart, Episode 99: So Long, Baby. This episode is written and directed by Morag Fullarton and I am playing the role of Lisa Corrie. I will of course update when this particular episode will be aired. I am delighted to be working with the regular cast of Taggart and it's a joy to be involved in this much respected programme.

Casting: John Hubbard at Hubbard Casting

I have just completed filming for the STV Bingo commercial, directed by Michael Hines. This will be aired on 16/06/08 on STV.

I am also currently filming the Great Western Features production, 'The Harris Tweed Story', written and directed by Peter Richardson.

Image: As Lady Dunmore for Harris Tweed

Photographer: Gavin Macqueen

This is a very exciting time and I will also be listing other information on future endeavours very soon.

These last few months since my return have been, I am pleased to say, very productive. I have just completed filming on the short film, All of Me, directed by Trine Dam Ottosen. I have high hopes for the life of this film as it begins its journey through the festival circuit. I intend to have media up on the site before long and as soon as I have the final edit of my latest endeavour, I will be ready to put together my showreel. Through my latest experiences, I am learning the importance of going that extra mile and having the courage to push myself. I feel more and more motivated to go beyond my limits.

This is a very exciting time and I will also be listing other information on future endeavours very soon.