
About Us
Made by Welshies, for everyone.
Purple String Productions Ltd are a Working-Class, Disabled/Neurodivergent-led production company, based in both Wales and London. We are determined to platform Welsh voices in London and create opportunities for marginalised artists. At the moment we specialise in new writing and are committed to creating work that is bold, passionate, progressive and accessible. We are particularly interested in challenging forms by mixing live music and sound design, as well as working with communities.

Our Story
Growing up Working-Class highlighted significant lack of our voices in mainstream media. We noticed that theatre, in particular, can be a powerful tool for representation and belonging, specifically by using the rhythms and stories held in the voice. This became the forefront of our goals, working with spoken-word and poetic nature of language to create bold, innovative and powerful theatre. We champion Disabled artists, ensuring that we take up space in an industry that can sometimes feel overwhelming and inaccessible.
Overall, we are a community.



Meet The Team

Grace O'Brien (She/They)
Founder & Artistic Director
Grace is a Bilingual, Working-Class, Disabled/Neurodivergent multidisciplinary from the Valleys in South Wales. Grace graduated with a 1st Class Degree from The Unversity of Exeter before studying an MA in Acting at The Royal Central School of Speech and Drama. Her acting credits include Stella (Sky 1), Doctors (BBC) and Welsh-BAFTA winning crime drama 35 Diwrnod (S4C). Grace participated in Sherman Theatre's Fresh Ink project for participants from lower socio-economic backgrounds and has recently been a part of Literature Wales's Reinventing The Protagonist course in association with Disability Arts Wales. Grace wrote and produced The Welsh Lxdies, which was long-listed as part of the RSC's 37 Plays and recently undertook R & D supported by ACW. Grace is passionate about creating work that is bold, relevant and incorporates the beautiful nuances of languages and the voice.

Gemma Goulbourn (She/Her)
Company Events & Marketing
Gemma is a Welsh-Indian creative from Cardiff. She graduated from Bath Spa University, with a first class degree in Fashion Business and Management. She trained as a performer at The National Youth Theatre and The Young Actors' Studio at RWCMD. Additionally, Gemma has experience working with SEN and young people and she's eager to combine her skills to further her work in the dramatic arts.

Jenna Dyckhoff (They/She)
Company Director/MD
Jenna is a Queer, Welsh, Neurodivergent, Actor-Musician and Musical Director with a first class honours degree in Actor-Musicianship from the London College of Music. Jenna has ADHD which gives them a love for learning and developing new skills, so they can play over 15 instruments! They are especially passionate about working on projects about Wales, women, neurodiversity and the LGBTQ+ community. Jenna is also an orchestrator and arranger, and successfully orchestrated, musically-directed and performed in the musical 'Onegin' by Hille and Gladstone for a group of 7 Actor-Musicians. Jenna recently MD'd 'For You I'd Wait' at the Union and Turbine theatres, enjoyed the Christmas panto season as 'Elvis the Elf' in Chesterfield and has played in a number of pit bands. Outside of performing, they love playing rugby, and recently won 'Player of the Year' for Dartfordians Ladies 1st team. Jenna is a big believer in family and wants to thank their family for all continued love and support, especially their (cheeky) 10 year old foster brother!

Conor Jones-Bishop (He/Him)
Finance
Conor graduated with an LLB in law from Sheffield Hallam University. Conor is currently an internal audit graduate for NatWest after previous experience in both the banking and legal sector as part of the Freshfields Stephen Lawrence Scholarship. Conor is excited to support a grassroots company with bookkeeping, analytical thinking and logical problem-solving skills.
Associate Artists

Alys Morgan Pearce

Rebecca Wilson

Erin Enfys

Rachel Thomas