Mike Bettison
Mike is the artistic director of Blaize, a community arts company. He is a director, actor and musician working mainly, though not exclusively, on Blaize projects. He is the lead researcher for the Music@the Heart of Teesdale youth music project. This provides material for the youth band ‘Cream Tees’ and ‘Wear’d Aliens.
He runs regular singing sessions for dementia in Barnard Castle, Middleton-in-Teesdale and Evenwood.
In 2019 he directed ‘Joan & Jimmy’ , written by Jim Woodland which looked at the early work of Theatre Workshop (Joan Littlewood and Jimmie Miller / Ewan MacColl) ..
He directed large scale outdoor fire show events for Goole Town Council 2000 – 2011 to audiences of 8,000 – 10,000.
He has worked as musical director / musician for Pocket Theatre, Major Road Theatre & Welfare State International.
He was the Arena Theatre Director at the Sidmouth International Festival 1999 – 2004. He is the Towersey Festival Showground Director 2009 – present.
He performed with the Fabulous Salami Brothers street theatre act 1979 – 1999 including performing at the World Expo’s in Vancouver 1986 and Brisbane 1988.
He played melodeon and sang with the folk group Flowers & Frolics. They recorded three albums. There are occasional re-union performances.