Christine Watkins

Writer and Performer

Education

Christine Watkins graduated from Aberystwyth University in 1979 with a BA Joint Hons in English and Drama.
Today Christine is well known as writer and performer.

Career Path

Her portfolio of commissions includes pieces for a wide range of theatre companies, the British Film Institute, the Welsh National Opera, BBC radio and S4C. One of her best known pieces is the film Anchoress (1993), for which she was the screenplay co-writer. Her favourite work location is a small studio in her garden where she writes for live performance, multi-disciplinary events, installations, films and publications.

Transferring the written word into a performance is Christine’s biggest challenge. Writing as such is a very solitary occupation. Writing for performance on the other hand, involves moving in and out of production, changing constellations of people and situations. Even though it can be difficult to juggle between writing and organising performance, Christine deeply enjoys the combination.

Her current interest is writing live performance pieces which bridge the art/science divide. One of her newest pieces is called Mosquito Night, which has been shown in The Courtyard Theatre. This piece was written in collaboration with biologist Dr Angela Priestman: it explores the past and present struggle to combat malaria.

Why English and Creative Writing?

Studying English provided Christine with a wide horizon, leading her to the gateway of her career. Moreover, in close vicinity of the sea and natural beauty, Aberystwyth provided Christine with inspiration for her work, one of the reasons why she chose to study in our small Welsh costal town.