Biography of Vicky Ireland

After training at the Central School of Speech and Drama, Vicky joined the newly established Theatre-In-Education team at the Belgrade Theatre, Coventry. As an actress, she then worked in TIE and repertory theatres all over Britain. She also appeared in various TV programmes for children, including presenting BBC's Words and Pictures for twelve years. As a writer, Vicky has had many theatre plays produced. For five years she wrote and directed plays at Regent's Park Open Air Theatre, London. Her television writing includes two series of adaptations of the Allan Ahlberg books Happy Families for BBC TV which were nominated for a BAFFA award. From 1989 to 2002, Vicky was Artistic Director of Polka Theatre, London, where she commissioned, produced and directed plays for children, originated the Children's Literary Festival 'The Word', and established a pioneering Children's Council. Since leaving Polka, she has adapted and directed three books by the author Jacqueline Wilson, taught in drama schools and written for the Stephen Joseph Theatre, Scarborough. International work directing plays, lecturing on children's theatre and running drama workshops has taken her to many countries including Russia, the Philippines, the United Arab Emirates, Japan, Brazil, Peru, Singapore, Cyprus, Finland and Israel. In 2002, she was awarded an MBE for services to children's drama, the first of its kind.