Friends & Patrons

Carolina Giammetta (Patron)

When Bigfoot started in 2000, I became one of their first ‘After school Drama Club’ teachers. I loved their passion and ambition for bringing drama into schools and making it affordable and accessible for children from different backgrounds.

There was a small pool of us teachers that had trained as actors and it gave us the chance to share our skills and knowledge with a wider community. As Bigfoot grew, so did the need for more programmes in schools. I went on to becoming the companies Master Trainer, not just training new and ongoing Bigfoot staff but also running INSET’s in schools with teachers, training them how to make their teaching practice more creative and interactive. That was 25yrs ago and the company is still thriving and has one of the best drama in education reputations in London and across the country.

Whilst I now work in Film & TV, I still have such admiration for the work Bigfoot has done over the years, transforming the lives of young people and teaching practices. Their energy is infectious and the staff that work for them continue to push the boundaries of an artistic and creative approach to learning. I am very proud to be their new Patron.

Carolina Giammetta is an award-winning TV & Film director and writer. She trained and worked as an actress as well as a drama and film studies facilitator and trainer and now works as a director in Television. She was recently appointed Director of Drama for ITV Studios’ scripted indie, Eagle Eye Drama.

She currently completing production on upcoming series&nbsp;<em>Bookish</em>&nbsp;which she&nbsp;directed,&nbsp;created by and starring Mark&nbsp;Gatiss, which will air later this year on UKTV’s channel U &amp; Alibi. Her other recent credits include&nbsp;<em>Suspect</em>&nbsp;Season 2 with&nbsp;Anne-Marie Duff for Channel 4 and&nbsp;<em>Before We Die</em>, Season 2, starring Lesley Sharp also for Channel 4.

In her new role she will continue to develop and direct new dramas for the company whilst also coming on board as executive producer for the company’s growing slate.

In 2021 she directed a four-part&nbsp;ITV&nbsp;drama,&nbsp;<em>Hollington Drive</em>&nbsp;starring Anna Maxwell Martin.&nbsp;Prior to this, in 2020, she directed her first authored piece – the four-part series,&nbsp;<em>The Drowning</em>,&nbsp;for Channel 5, starring Jill Halfpenny, Rupert Penry-Jones and Jonas Armstrong.

Carolina Giammetta (Patron)

When Bigfoot started in 2000, I became one of their first ‘After school Drama Club’ teachers. I loved their passion and ambition for bringing drama into schools and making it affordable and accessible for children from different backgrounds.

There was a small pool of us teachers that had trained as actors and it gave us the chance to share our skills and knowledge with a wider community. As Bigfoot grew, so did the need for more programmes in schools. I went on to becoming the companies Master Trainer, not just training new and ongoing Bigfoot staff but also running INSET’s in schools with teachers, training them how to make their teaching practice more creative and interactive. That was 25yrs ago and the company is still thriving and has one of the best drama in education reputations in London and across the country.

Whilst I now work in Film &amp; TV, I still have such admiration for the work Bigfoot has done over the years, transforming the lives of young people and teaching practices. Their energy is infectious and the staff that work for them continue to push the boundaries of an artistic and creative approach to learning. I am very proud to be their new Patron.

Carolina Giammetta is an award-winning TV &amp; Film director and writer. She&nbsp;trained and worked as an actress as well as a drama and film studies facilitator and trainer and now works as a director in Television. She was recently appointed Director of Drama for ITV Studios’ scripted indie, Eagle Eye&nbsp;Drama.

She currently completing production on upcoming series&nbsp;<em>Bookish</em>&nbsp;which she&nbsp;directed,&nbsp;created by and starring Mark&nbsp;Gatiss, which will air later this year on UKTV’s channel U &amp; Alibi. Her other recent credits include&nbsp;<em>Suspect</em>&nbsp;Season 2 with&nbsp;Anne-Marie Duff for Channel 4 and&nbsp;<em>Before We Die</em>, Season 2, starring Lesley Sharp also for Channel 4.

In her new role she will continue to develop and direct new dramas for the company whilst also coming on board as executive producer for the company’s growing slate.

In 2021 she directed a four-part&nbsp;ITV&nbsp;drama,&nbsp;<em>Hollington Drive</em>&nbsp;starring Anna Maxwell Martin.&nbsp;Prior to this, in 2020, she directed her first authored piece – the four-part series,&nbsp;<em>The Drowning</em>,&nbsp;for Channel 5, starring Jill Halfpenny, Rupert Penry-Jones and Jonas Armstrong.

Paul McVeigh (Friend)

I worked with Bigfoot for over a decade and found the organisation one that was diverse and inclusive, original and progressive. They pioneered using supply teaching as a way of delivering drama classes that covered the curriculum, encouraged self-belief and confidence as well as making the whole process a joy. A wonderful company full of ideas, positivity, and incredible talent. I miss working there and I’m proud to support their work.
 
‘The Good Son’, Paul’s debut novel, won The Polari First Novel Prize and The McCrea Literary Award. Paul has written comedy, essays, flash fiction, a novel, plays and short stories, and his work has been performed on radio, stage and television, and published in seven languages.
 
Born in Belfast, Paul began his career as a playwright before moving to London where he wrote comedy shows, which were performed at the Edinburgh Festival and in London’s West End. He returned to theatre in 2022, with ‘Big Man’ at Lyric Theatre, Belfast, which was nominated for 6 Broadway World Ireland Awards and won an Irish Times Theatre Award.
 
‘I Hear You’, a collection of stories commissioned by BBC Radio 4, was published March ’25.
 
He was acting Head of Literature for the Arts Council of Northern Ireland ’22-’23.
 
Up Next: WCLF July 16-18 Novel Writing Workshop SOLD OUT Short Story Event with Ross Raisin, July 17
Novel: ‘The Good Son’ Winner of Polari First Novel Prize
Radio: Listen Now – ‘The Bray’ on RTE Radio 1