Alternative Comedy | Writing | Performing| Stage Tech
Editing | Audio | Badges | Zines | Facilitating
Now That
Sounds Like Shevek
Who is Shevek?
I’m a neurodivergent, genderqueer, alternative comedy writer-performer-technician from and based in Newcastle upon Tyne. Combining an affinity for surreal silliness with my technical skillset as a sound designer/operator, I offer hope-punk absurdism with an unique collaborative performance style.
In 2025 I co-founded (Mr) Funbles’ Productions, addressing a local gap in provision for platforming accessible alternative comedy. Over the year we produced six live shows, including three as season regulars at Alphabetti Theatre, as well as a selection of audio-visual online sketches, and a souvenir fanzine. Funbles’ nurtures an anarchic DIY vibe with a welcoming ensemble feel, intersectionally queer- and neurodivergent-friendly, adaptive to meet the access needs of our performers and audiences. It’s proving very rewarding cultivating a much-needed supportive space for marginalised creatives to experiment and be unapologetically authentic without having to inhibit, adapt or limit their work to “fit in” with mainstream approaches to performance. It’s been equally well-received by audiences, who have commented that they had “really needed” the levity, hope and silliness we had provided in the current climate. Through this endeavour we’re managing to strengthen our community and grow resilience through escapist, joy-filled alternative spaces to rest and rejuvenate around our fight for survival. Watch this space for what Funbles’ is doing next!
Alongside writing-performing, I wear many hats under the umbrella of multifarious creative practitioner. Recent pertinent projects and exploits include:
A commission by QueerAF to produce a half hour audio documentary for their Trans+ History Week podcast series. Listen to ‘Back when boys, played girls, pretending to be boys’ here.
Script reader, assistant producer and sound tech for Homebake, a new writing night at Gosforth Civic Theatre, produced by Lindsay Nicholson.
Sharing my love of baking and embracing the snail as part of the Queer Pleasure Arhive Project, produced by Sarah Li with the DGA.
Popping up around the region with Pongo, the emotional support phrog, as a sound designer, QLab programmer, dramaturg. script editor, video editor, technical assistant, badge-maker, zine-maker & creative facilitator.
All Sorts of Editing
For writing. Across forms, genres and audiences. I have a strong sense of how to put words together effectively for a solid impact, whilst always careful to maintain writers’ authentic voices.
For audio. I love working with sound, and am always happy to dip my auditory muscles into Pro Tools to make whatever fun, weird things folks need.
For audio-visual content. Video editing satisfies my poetical storytelling tendencies. I am proficient at finding the rhythm of the composition. I’m also as at ease working with DIY collected assets as I am with more traditionally produced footage. Whatever material there is, I can help construct and share a narrative with it.
Technical Assistance
Confident in compiling SFX files, creating showfiles for traditional and interactive set-ups in QLab, and operating sound desks.
Able to assist with setting up live sound equipment in addition to general technical assistance for stage, podcasting, recording audio-visual content and streaming.
Facilitation
Providing spaces where people can create things in a way that works for them! My practice emphasises finding and elevate participants’ own authentic voices, cultivating creativity through comfortable community engagement.
So far I’ve led workshops in badge-making, zine-making, sketch-writing, comedy writing and performance. I’m always excited to share the skills I have and encourage cultural engagement at all levels of experience.
Why Shevek?
Conscientious, a calm presence, I know my stuff. Though, if I don’t know something I’m always quick to do the necessary research to find out.
I’m driven, determined, reliable, and – most importantly – always on the hunt for fun.
I care about the process and the people who make things happen – if it’s not enjoyable to do then in my (neurodivergent) mind, it’s not worth doing. I’m access-centred and wellbeing focussed – working hard within my capacity to help meet the needs of my community.
Funbles’ Productions
2025 –
Cultivating a cosy home for weirdos 🎈 Sharing silly things online on a weekly-ish basis 🐌 Live alternative comedy variety shows on a semi-regular basis in Newcastle upon Tyne
Role
Creative Director
About
Creating with Funbles’ is providing space and focus for me to exercise all my intersecting creative muscles simultaneously, and see what joyful anarchy can ensue with the opportunity to authentically direct my sense of feel-good absurdism into one, expansive, label-resisting, malleable output.
Inspired by, and wanting to bring the energy of, Stamptown, The Muppet Show and Aunty Donna to my home region, Funbles’ is an evolving exercise in cultivating a resilient queer- and neuro- inclusive creative community empowerred to concoct escapist, joy-filled ways of making ourselves and others laugh, without needing to meet normative expectations of what comedy apparently should be. Fundamentally, Funbles’ is growing into a home for creatives to try out whatever weird ideas that are hard to fit onto other stages, including characters (recurring and one-off), sketches, running gags and ensemble shenanigans.
I’m gaining a lot of fulfilment and increasing confidence directing this glorious organised chaos, co-ordinating pretty much everything behind the scenes.
For live shows, it’s my utmost priority that everyone involved knows what to expect and is comfortable and confident to come along and play on the night. I really enjoy working 1:1 with creatives to develop their acts to both fit what they want to get out of performing, and to fit the vibe of the night. I’m also able to offer reactive tech through my hot keyed soundboard, adding an extra level of production value into the mix.
And, making sketches and other assorted oddments for online audiences, I’m developing the skills and networks that encompass a mini-production house to get AV content made on a small scale, with aspirations to scale up as and when we can get further investment (business handshake).
Together, our ensemble are devising Funbles’ lore and ethos, an irripressable spirit to keep showing up and inspiring laughter.
My Name Is Rachel Corrie
wet arts ltd with Alphabetti Theatre
Presented at Alphabetti Theatre in October 2024. Directed by Ryan Hay, performed by Rebecca Glendenning-Laycock. The North-East Premiere of the play, compiled from Rachel Corrie’s diaries and emails, edited by Katherine Viner and Alan Rickman.
Role
Sound Designer and Technical Operator
Contribution
As part of a core creative team of three, with a minimalist design and sensitive material, the sound design was an integral part of telling the story conscientiously on stage. I undertook some close reading of the text, and then met with the director to establish what was needed from the sound design. As the directorial vision necessitated a complex microphone set up I liased early on with the technical team at Alphabetti Theatre to realise this. I researched core aspects of the soundscape that I wanted to include, such as birds in Olympia and Gaza. I curated the sounds from libraries, doing some additional editing to make them work in Pro Tools; I then programmed the SFX showfile in QLab and assembled the tech script.
In my role as technical operator I was also responsible for setting up and packing down the show in the venue space, compiling show reports and ensuring handover was smooth for cover.
I found this project challenging and fulfilling, and I’m keen to continue to develop my skills in these areas and help to facilitate all manners of storytelling through sound.