05/04/2026
I created Tapis Théâtre as a grassroots venture: a rug in the corner of my lounge as the stage, about five performers a night, friends paying at the door of my Marais apartment and I even ran a tiny bar from beneath my lofted bed.
Ten years on, it’s incredible to see how far this scratch night has come: not only the platform itself, but the projects and collaborations it has sparked. Last year, I went to the Edinburgh Fringe as the co-producer for 𝘈𝘓𝘖𝘕𝘌, and it was there that I realised I’d actually been producing for the past ten years… thanks to Tapis Théâtre.
Growing up in New Zealand, I was shaped by the “Number 8 Wire” mentality, the idea that anything can be made from nothing. With little funding in theatre, we were taught to create our own work. So when I arrived in Paris with no connections, I didn’t see an obstacle, I saw an opportunity to build something from the ground up. I needed a community, so I created one.
This night has been with me through my entire Paris journey. The very first Tapis Théâtre was also the night I rekindled the flame with a charming French jazz musician… whom I married last year.
After a few rounds of Tapis, I met enough people to stage 𝘈 𝘔𝘪𝘥𝘴𝘶𝘮𝘮𝘦𝘳 𝘕𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵’𝘴 𝘋𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘮 at an amphitheatre in Montmartre, where I met Hannah Coyle. From 2018 to 2021, we spent four summers performing Shakespeare in Montmartre, learning, collaborating, and meeting incredible artists, including Nathalie Allison and Anthea Freya Hill. In 2023, we founded Alchemy Theatre and then through our Director’s Lab, we met Stuart McDougall, who quickly became an integral part of the company.
Sometimes, all it takes is a rug in the corner of your lounge to make Alchemy happen.
It was a pleasure to host the three nights of the 14th edition of Tapis Théâtre, can’t wait to see what’s next.
x Cha Cha
