About Me
I’ve mostly been drawn to performing comedy and over the years have tried my hand at a variety of comic performance styles including stand-up, performance poetry, comedy improv and clowning. During the years of attending community theatre groups in Hackney I loved to play larger-than-life comic characters, highlights being Mrs Bennett in Pride and Prejudice, Mrs Sparsit in Hard Times and Captain Hook in Peter Pan. With Freshwater Theatre Company, which I co-founded, I performed in A Midsummer Night’s Dream on a tour of Italy and numerous, historical characters in educational history shows for school audiences in the U.K.
In 2015 I began to write and perform solo comedy shows and so far have created, What Kind of Fool Am I?, The O.S. Map Fan Club and The National Trust Fan Club.
With Let’s Talk About Philip out on tour in 2023 it means I’m continuing to take a break from performing comedy shows, although Let’s Talk About Philip does have plenty of dark humour. However during 2023 comedy will, once again, be a creative focus as I explore hedgerows, woodlands and beaches and begin researching and writing The Foraging Fan Club, ready for performances in 2024.
Past Shows
The National Trust Fan Club
Performed from 2019 to 2021
In this multi-media show I brought to life my daring quest to visit every National Trust property and become a certified super fan. Using a combination of personal stories, historical anecdotes, poetry, sketches and scones I took the audience on a whirlwind tour of National Trust properties and outdoor spaces around Britain.
Produced by James Seabright
Script-edited and directed by Chris Head
‘Has a lot in common with the similarly named Victoria Wood ... A comic celebration of a cosy Britishness ... Wood proves places are important through the roles they play in stories from her life and our own.’
The O.S. Map Fan Club
Performed from 2017 to 2019
In this solo show I shared my enthusiasm for the Ordnance Survey and their much loved, fold-out, paper maps. I led the audience on a virtual ramble, during which they met colourful characters, heard amusing anecdotes and paused frequently to admire the view.
Awarded Best Original Act at Swindon Fringe Festival.
Script-edited and directed by Chris Head
'This play has everything – nostalgia, laughs, dread, and sexual politics. Endearing, sincere, wholesome and zany. Comic genius.'
'A cartographical extravaganza that is ingeniously clever ... it will educate, amuse and delight in equal measure.'
‘Wonderful, quirky and engaging … a beautifully crafted and delightful show.’
What Kind of Fool am I?
Performed from 2015 to 2016
This was my first solo show and in it I combined humour with self-analysis. Through biographical material, I wove together information and observations about the little-known Enneagram personality ‘system’.
‘An absorbing, charming and very funny piece.’
Funny Women
‘A wonderful and engaging hour of original entertainment.’
Stroud News and Journal
The Usherettes
Performed from 2014 to 2015
This was my first Edinburgh Fringe show as a performer. I co-wrote and performed it with Karen Levick and although the venue in Edinburgh was quite small it was a sell-out success. The Usherettes alternated between the tragic-comic story of two hapless cinema usherettes, Pearl and Jean, and the high drama of a selection of classic film parodies.
‘Comic timing, physicality and facial expressions are excellent.’
Broadway Baby
‘Helen Wood displaying a real talent for comedy ... leaving the whole audience in stitches.’
Stroud News and Journal