Mixtape is a theatre company that produces new short plays by the best new writing talent around, all inspired by music. The music can be anything – but the play must be shorter than the length of the track that inspired it and only lyrics from the song can be used to form the script. The lyrics can be rehashed and reordered in any way that the writers and actors see fit but no additional words (bar the odd expletive or ad-lib) can be used. Each mixtape is themed.

Trashed Organ is a theatre, live literature and events company that is committed to creating work that focuses on the surreal, unusual and outcast. The company is co-directed by Melanie Rashbrooke and John Challis. Melanie leads on the companies theatrical output overseeing their theatre projects. Trashed Organ's 2012 programme saw over 20 Live Literature events, a four-day festival of poetry, music and theatre, a rather special Christmas Cabaret at Live Theatre plus several exciting collaborations with companies including the Newcastle Centre for the Literary Arts, Gem Arts, Live Theatre, New Writing North and Penned in the Margins. 2012 also saw the conception of new theatre projects Bedshow and The Suitcase Monologues, which will be produced in Winter 2013. In 2012 Trashed Organ merged with sister theatre company Bubble & Squeek.

Director for NTHATHU/THREE. Touring to South Africa in June & July 2012 as part of the Grahamstown National Arts Festival.Forced into crime. Fixated by love. Fuelled by drugs.A heart-warming tale about Lefu, Mpo and Bulelani, three childhood friends whose friendship is tested by the harsh realities of life in the township.

Directed a site responsive re-imagining of Hamlet at the Star & Shadow Cinema in Newcastle 17 & 18 Nov 2011. R&D project Bedshow 2010. This show is due to be developed into a full length devised theatre show in 2012.Co-wrote and directed WARHOL in 2005, which toured to The Sugarhouse in Lancaster and The Bongo Club as part of the 2006 Edinburgh Fringe. The show sold out and received a four star review in The Scotsman.