Polly Tisdall is the founder and director of Rambling Heart.

A storyteller, workshop leader and theatre-maker, she has directed all of Rambling Heart's projects to date, most recently, Charlotte Sometimes at Oxford Playhouse's Burton Taylor Studio.

 

Other directing credits include: The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Family (IdeasTap Underbelly Award Winner 2015: touring the UK in Autumn 2016), Biting Tongues (Capital Plays Festival), LitFuse (Apples & Snakes), Hidden Histories (Birmingham Rep). Assistant directing work includes Dear Father Christmas (Oxford Playhouse, dir. Helen Eastman), Ready, Steady, Colour! (A Line Art, dir. Toby Hulse) and Never Try This At Home (Told by an Idiot, dir. Paul Hunter).

 

Polly was nominated for a British Award for Storytelling Excellence for her storytelling show, The Man in the Moone and the Journey Thither in 2013 and was named Young Storyteller of the Year in 2011. She has performed at festivals, story clubs and schools across the UK and has delivered theatre and story based workshops for a wide range of organisations including Cambridge University, Oxford Playhouse, Telford Mind, All Saints Youth Centre, Walsall Asian Libraries Users Group, Crisis Skylight and Restore, Oxford. She specialises in using storytelling approaches to improve public speaking.  

 

As resident director at Magdalen College School and Oxford Playhouse 2014-15, Polly has previously written and directed a number of shows for performance by young people. She holds a first class degree in English Literature and Drama from the University of Birmingham.

 

Polly likes avocados and large windows. She is happiest in her wellington boots rambling up and down the English hills!

 

More about Polly's freelance work can be found here.

 

Hannah Groombridge produces Rambling Heart's creative projects. Currently Producer at Oxford Playhouse, Hannah joined Rambling Heart in 2014, producing Charlotte Sometimes for the Burton Taylor Studio.

 

As the Resident Producer at Magdalen College School and Oxford Playhouse 2014-15, Hannah worked closely with Polly to deliver a broad range of creative projects with young people. During the year she also worked as an Associate Producer for Shared Experience on their most recent tour - Mermaid.

 

Her previous producing credits include Rachel (Finborough Theatre) and The Picture of John Gray (Old Red Lion Theatre). She has also worked at the King’s Head Theatre, the Arcola Theatre and for Matilda the Musical, and is currently on the BBC Production Talent Pool scheme. She holds a degree in History and Politics from the University of Oxford.

 

Hannah likes risotto and cake - and dreams of retiring to a small tea rooms in the Peak District, where she can ramble to her heart's content!