Born in Canada, I graduated from the University of Minnesota and spent my early 20s in the Twin Cities. I acted in rep, summer stock, children's and community companies, and on the University Show Boat, and worked as a presenter, programme maker and interviewer for KUOM Radio and KTCA-TV.

I moved to the UK in the late 60s, joined the experimental company Die Komödianten in Vienna, and then returned to London where I free-lanced for Canadian Broadcasting. I was an original member of Red Ladder Theatre (1969-75), co-founded Broadside Theatre, performed with Theatermanufaktur in Berlin, and worked with campaigning community theatre projects.  Richard Stourac and I co-authored Theatre as a Weapon, Workers' Theatre in the Soviet Union, Germany and Britain 1917-1934 (Routledge & Kegan, 1986).

I wrote and collaborated on plays ranging from street theatre to classic adaptations. My work was produced by Avon Touring, Chester Gateway, Cleveland Theatre Company, Northern Stage, Snap, community and youth theatres, universities, colleges and schools, and film and video companies.

Inspired by a Year of the Artist residency with the NHS I became a counsellor. I worked with young people at Streetwise and for Them Wifies, and volunteered with Freedom from Torture, Someone Cares and Place2Be.

In the summer of 2009, I moved to Co. Donegal, Ireland.  Culture Ireland awarded me a bursary to collaborate with Dinganga Theatre Creations on Matters of the Heart which premiered at the Soweto Theatre.  The Brecht Workshops I ran led to the founding of Bread and Roses Theatre Company.  I directed Dario Fo’s ‘Can’t Pay? Won’t Pay!’ for the Earagail Arts Festival and facilitated and co-directed ‘Waving Not Drowning’, an innovative montage of short plays about mental health.

In 2017 I moved to Ontario, where I am working on my first novel.