Skill set
Derek in a few words
A native of the North East of England, I started acting at my local theatre group in Sunderland, after which I made my way to London. In the early 1980’s, I moved on to the USA and studied with the acclaimed improvisation tutor, Viola Spolin. I appeared in many film and television productions. I was seen at the 2011 Cannes Film Festival. During 2013 I worked in the USA where I was nominated for a Best Supporting Actor award at the 2013 Filmed in Utah awards for my portrayal of Frank Sarvis in the Amazon Prime TV series ‘Day Zero’. I am featured using one of the many accents in my repertoire in the First Bank of Israel advert as Dada that was made in 2018 and that can be seen in my portfolio. Recently I was featured in the 2019 North European Film Festival Best Short Film award winner, Car Pool Poker as Car Sick Sam.
I made my London debut as a Director with Educating Rita (Willy Russell) and followed that up with Middle Aged Spread (Roger Hall) and Anton Chekov’s, The Proposal.
Additionally, I have written three full-length plays, Run For Home and Bad Moon Rising, which are adaptations of books by crime novelist, Sheila Quigley and Snatched From Home based on a novel by Graham Smith. All were produced at Houghton Feast and the Greater Manchester Fringe Festivals. My first radio play, Murder Mystery Murder was produced and recorded in February 2015.
5 recommendations
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Oliver Chapman and 4 other people have recommended Derek
17/6/2021
Derek adapted the stageplay 'Run for home' based on the novel of the same name by Sheila Quigley. He is highly professional, reliable and courteous as well as adaptive to the needs of those he works with, as well as the resources available to produce screen work.
17/6/2021
Having worked with him on various productions over the past 10 years, I can confirm that Derek is a highly skilled and multi-talented director, actor and voice actor. In the field of directing and acting, Derek combines insight with versatility and creativity, and is also able to deliver a wide range of authentic accents. An excellent team player and leader, Derek is wonderful to work with: highly recommended!
17/6/2021
I have known Derek as a colleague, stage director/employer and friend since 2011, and have worked with him on numerous projects under my Equity stage name Dave Egerton. The two key projects were the stage plays 'Run for Home' & 'Bad Moon Rising', both written and directed by Derek, adaptations of the books by Sheila Quigley, and performed in week long runs at the Zazz Theatre in Houghton-le-Spring, County Durham.
I have always found Derek to be highly creative, professional, efficient and an exemplary director/employer.
David Charles Carter
I have always found Derek to be highly creative, professional, efficient and an exemplary director/employer.
David Charles Carter
17/6/2021
Derek is my turn to, go to guy for numerous things.
Always ready to help, assist.
True professional in all he does, an he does alot!!!
Always ready to help, assist.
True professional in all he does, an he does alot!!!