People
o-region is steered by Artistic Director Simon Harvey, supported by long-term collaborators Brett Harvey and Oliver Berry.
We also have a network of regular collaborators (performers, musical directors, writers, filmmakers and graphic artists), and a strong commitment to supporting new talent.
Simon Harvey
Artistic Director
Alongside his work as o-region’s Artistic Director, Simon maintains a portfolio career as a freelance theatre director, producer, writer, lecturer and workshop leader.
He is an Associate Lecturer in Film and Acting at Falmouth University, and has worked extensively for Kneehigh Theatre as an Associate Director.
He works regularly for Hall for Cornwall, overseeing and delivering much of the theatre and performance side of the Youth Provision (Youth Theatre / Musical Mondays). Since 2015 he has also written, co-produced and directed the main house HFC Christmas show.
He is a Board Member for Creative Kernow, Screen Cornwall and Prodigal UPG, and a current member of the BBC’s 2020/21 Cornish Voices New Writers Group.
In 2020 Simon was made a Bard of the Gorsedd for services to promoting Cornwall through the media. His Bardic name is Mab Hwedlow (Son of Stories).
Simon’s recent directing work includes: The Canterbury Tales (David Mynne) due to tour 2021, A Cornish Carol (also Co-Writer / Performer), The Illustrated Girl (Kneehigh / Hall for Cornwall), The Sad Club (HFC Youth Theatre) by Luke Barnes (as part of National Theatre Connections), Hireth (also Co-Producer), FUP (also adapter / writer), Sleeping Beauty (HFC) (also Co-Writer / Co-Producer).
Brett Harvey
Filmmaker
Brett Harvey is a writer & director based in Cornwall. His debut feature film Weekend Retreat won multiple awards including Best Director at the London Independent Film Festival 2012 and his second feature Brown Willy (described by The New Statesman as “Cornwall’s answer to Withnail and I”) won the Golden Chough at the Cornwall Film Festival 2016. His third feature Long Way Back was released in 2022.
He’s made films for Lucasfilm, Kneehigh Theatre, o-region, Plymouth Theatre Royal, Freefall Dance Company, Cscape Dance Company, Three Cane Whale, Sarah McQuaid, Theatre Damfino, The People’s String Foundation, Black Books, Hedluv + Passman, Hall For Cornwall and The Eden Project.
Oliver Berry
Photography & Design
Oliver Berry is a writer, photographer and designer.
His words and images have been published by a wide variety of organisations including Lonely Planet, the BBC, Apple, Immediate Media, John Brown Media, The Guardian, The Independent, The Times, Kinfolk and Waitrose.
He has also designed work for companies including Kneehigh, cscape, Palores Productions, Attik Dance and Hall for Cornwall.