Strange-Twig
Theatre Company
Meet The Team
Rob Coke-Woods
Artistic Director and Founder
Specialising in physical theatre and aerial performance as well as being an adept storyteller Rob has been the director of Strange-Twig since he founded the company in 2005.
Training at Bretton Hall in Yorkshire Robs catalogue of works stretches from classical theatre through musicals and dance and into circus where his heart truly lies. He has been involved in countless productions across his extensive career.
Rob is a qualified aerial instructor.
Penny Coke-Woods
Executive Director and Head Technician
With a focus on technical theatre and aerial performance as well as being an adept physical performer Penny has been co-director of Strange-Twig since 2010.
Pennys career has taken her all over the world with credits in China, Greece and Australia to name a few. Her skills cover aerial and acrobatics, lighting design, advanced stage combat, production management and clowning. Her work at Strange-Twig incorporates every aspect of her experience.
Ruth Jepson
Senior Company Member
Ruth is an experienced performer and an emerging fire artist based in Yorkshire. Educated at Huddersfield University in BA Drama. She has worked with Strange-Twig since 2013 in a variety of roles across several productions. She regularly performs in venues around Sheffield and the surrounding area, most recently as Jim Hawkins in Treasure Island and has played multiple audience interaction fronted roles. Her favourite role to date has been as Connie in The Effect.
Jade Fearnley
Company Technician
Jade studied Technical Theatre (Production and Design) at the University of Salford achieving a First as well as the Award for Best Technical Theatre Student 2021/2022. Since graduating Jade hs been working as a freelance stage manager and multi-skilled technician across a variety of live events.
Recent credits include: ASM (Jack and The Beanstalk, Leeds City Varieties), SM (Sweet Dreams, Factory International) and many more.
Jack Stockdale-Haley
Fight Director
Jack is a fully qualified Equity Fight Director (with the Equity Fight Director Register) from West Yorkshire, UK . I am committed to delivering high-quality combat content for screen, stage and live events, both in my own choreography and as a performer.
His accreditations in Stage Combat were taken with Actors Combat Theatrical Training, the British Academy of Dramatic Combat, and the Academy of Performance Combat, examining at advanced level in over a dozen weapon systems.
Nathan Ritson
Performer and Production Assistant
Nathan is a performer and fine artist specialising in Shadow Puppetry and large scale outdoor events based in Cornwall. He has performed in multiple roles for Strange-Twig and has assisted in the creation of puppets for Dream of The Sea and taken a lead in all puppetry for Under The Leaves. He is co-founder and a principal part of Frog and Bone and has worked across the UK with several other theatre companies.
Sophie Rushworth-Davies
Performer
Sophie is a performer, dancer and stage manager based in Yorkshire. Educated in Contemporary Dance at the University of Chester she has worked with Strange-Twig since 2023. Recent roles include Ambrosia the Hummingbird in Under The Leaves as well as ensemble roles in Have-A-Go-Pirates and Dream of The Sea as well as recent work with the Northern Ballet Company.
Imogen Danbury
Performer
Imogen has appeared in many TV productions and feature films including Victoria, Emmerdale and The Little Stranger as well as the short film 25% - A Confession for which she won 7 international best young actress awards including an award at the Cannes World Film Festival. Imogen is studying BA Screen Acting at the Central Film School in London and will play Solasta in Strange-Twigs Under The Leaves National Tour.
Elliott Dale-Hughes
Performer
Elliott is an actor and an Advanced Fight Performer based in Yorkshire. Elliott has worked in the performance industry since 2017 and has been studying the blade (and shield, baton and cape) since 2023.
Recent Roles in addition to Strange-Twig include Samuel Vimes, Long John Silver and Mercutio.
Bryony Hallam
Performer
Bryony has been working with Strange-Twig since 2021 and has taken on multiple roles during that time, not least of which as Ma for Have-A-Go-Pirates and as an ensemble vocalist in Dream of The Sea. She has also worked in prop creation and as a production assistant for the company as well as taking on stage management roles for several outdoor festivals. In addition to being a vocalist Bryony is also a textile artist and character actor.
Lillie Barber
Performer
Lillie brings a wealth of experience from both stage and screen, including credits in televised adverts for Chester Zoo, KFC and Harveys as well as roles in Emmerdale, Victoria and Jericho.
From a background in gymnastics, screen and theatre, she has been performing all of her life and is currently training at The Arden School of Theatre in Manchester.
Lucy Jepson
Performer
Lucy Jepson has been part of the Barnsley and Sheffield theatre scene for 24 years, working in a mixture of Jacobean theatre, period drama and pantomime. Highlights include both Sebastian and Viola in Twelfth Night and Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz.
Lucy is also developing as an aerialist with a focus on hoop and static trapeze.
Tom Hagley
Vocal Artist and Performer
Tom is an actor, singer, music producer, sound designer and voice artist. Tom has produced music and sound effects for games, video and theatre. He voiceovers for education and mental health organisations and performs a wide variety of character voices for audio drama. Tom is also a specialist mentor in Autism and ADHD. Tom releases and performs his own solo music as SkyWizard.
Hal Grayson
Performer
Hal is a performer and theatre maker from Yorkshire with key skills in comedy and character performance. They graduated with a first class degree in Drama and History from the University of Kent in 2022. Since then, they have performed and been on the production teams of multiple shows in the local area. Their recent roles have included Claudio (Much Ado About Nothing) and Jim Hawkins (Treasure Island).
Helen Davison
Performer
Helen is still fairly new to the industry, however she has already made a mark with her recent performance in Strange-Twigs Journey to the Centre of The Earth (2026). She has competency in Jyo staff as well as taking stage combat courses with ACCT accreditation and working towards furthering her acrobatic ability with Rob and Penny.
Helen is also an extremely talented artist.
Emma Starczewski
Performer
Emma has been expanding her career since 2020 and has recently begun training in additional circus disciplines. She most recently made her Strange-Twig debut in Dream of the Sea (2026) after appearing as Lofty in Monstrous Regiment earlier that same year. She is specialising in aerial hoop and acrobatics and has taken stage combat courses with ACCT accreditation.