Marah Stafford and Nicholas Hart performing Breakfast

we tell stories through movement

Wilson & Hart is a London-based theatre company that strives to create visually-striking, movement-based theatre. We like evocative and honest storytelling that is born out of collaboration, driven by a visceral sense of movement, and devoted to exploring the social-political and gendered nuances of non-verbal communication.

We were founded in 2015 by Marah Stafford and Nicholas Hart, who met while performing in Les Enfants Terribles' hit immersive show, Alice's Adventures Underground. Upon discovering our shared passion for the power of movement in storytelling, with combined backgrounds in dance training, movement psychotherapy, and psychophysical modes of performance, we decided to form a physical theatre company.

We value the collaborative approach to devising theatre, and are heavily influenced by the likes of Jacques Lecoq and Pina Bausch. Interested in collaborating with us? Send us an email and say hello. We'd love to hear from you.

Nicholas Hart and Marah Stafford rehearsing.
Headshot of Marah Stafford, actor and dancer.

marah stafford
co-artistic director

Marah Stafford hails from beautiful Portland, Oregon. She is an actor, dancer and registered movement psychotherapist. She studied at Goucher College in Baltimore, Academia dell'Arte in Tuscany, and Roehampton University in London.

As a performer, theatre credits include Inside Pussy Riot (Les Enfants Terribles, The Saatchi Gallery), Alice’s Adventures Underground (Les Enfants Terribles, The Vaults), and Back to The Future (Secret Cinema).

Marah regularly performs for multi-sensory performance company, BitterSuite and has performed with them in venues including the Roundhouse, RichMIX (London), and BAM (New York). As a creative producer, she conceived and co-directed BitterSuite's 'Open Spaces' takeover at the Royal Academy of Arts in 2016.

For Wilson & Hart, Marah co-devised, co-directed and performed in Breakfast (VAULT Festival 2018, New Diorama Theatre, HOME Manchester), and regularly directs the Royal Academy of Arts’ RA Lates.

nicholas hart
co-artistic director

Nicholas is a theatre maker, actor, and puppeteer. He trained at the Royal Central School of Speech & Drama under the direction of Complicité Associate, Catherine Alexander, specialising in collaborative and devised theatre.

As an actor and puppeteer, theatre credits include puppeteering Joey in War Horse (New London Theatre, West End, and for NT Live), Hand To God (Vaudeville, West End), Father Christmas (Lyric Hammersmith), Alice’s Adventures Underground (Les Enfants Terribles, The Vaults), Of Mice and Men (Watermill Theatre, Newbury), and SOLD (Pleasance, Edinburgh Festival Fringe).

For Wilson & Hart, he co-devised, co-directed and performed in Breakfast (VAULT Festival 2018, New Diorama Theatre, HOME Manchester), and regularly directs the Royal Academy of Arts’ RA Lates. He was associate movement director for BitterSuite’s ‘Open Spaces’ takeover at the Royal Academy of Arts in 2016.

Headshot of Nicholas Hart, actor, puppeteer and director.
Ben Murray, folk singer and musician.

ben murray
performer, music director

Ben Murray is an actor, folk musician and singer, who's been singing and playing the piano since he was five. He's one of the founding members of Tarras, and after releasing three albums with the band, went on to work extensively in the music industry, recording and touring all over the world, with artists including Guo Yue, Seth Lakeman, The Imagined Village and Renzo Spiteri. He's been a frequent player too at all the major folk and roots festivals across Europe. Working with producer Richard Evans from Realworld Records, Ben has been involved in numerous film and television projects, and is a member of the band Walking with Ghosts alongside David Rhodes, Ged Lynch and Jackie Oates.

As an actor, Ben played the Songman in the National Theatre's West End production of War Horse for two years, beginning in 2013, and returning to the role for the production's final year in 2016/17. He also played the Songman for the National Theatre Live broadcast of the show. Ben regularly performs alongside War Horse author Michael Morpurgo at various literary events around the country.

In 2014, Ben composed the music for Duck, Death and the Tulip at the Orange Tree Theatre by Brunskill and Grimes, and in 2015 joined Wilson & Hart as their music director, composing the music for and performing in Breakfast.

Ben is currently working on a play with poet Tom Pickard, based on the life of the border piper Jamie Allen, and is recording two albums for ECC records - a solo project and a duo album with Rosie Doonan.

clare louise connolly
performer, associate director

Clare is an established actress in West End theatre, television and film. She spent two years performing in Michael Morpurgo’s War Horse playing the role of the young French girl Emilie for the National Theatre. Most recently, Clare played the protagonist, Regan, in the West End production of The Exorcist alongside Ian Mckellen as the Demon. Other West End theatre includes Mary Poppins, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, Hello Dolly, Six Charaters in Search of an Author amongst others.

On television, Clare has played roles in Coronation Street, Heartbeat, The Crimson Petal and The White, Christopher and His Kind, and Way To Go. She was also in the first Mamma Mia movie.

Clare is also a voiceover artist for BBC Radio Drama and is a voice on numerous computer games, including Sylvi in Game Of Thrones: A Telltale Games Series.

For Wilson & Hart, Clare was associate director for Breakfast, and has performed in the RA Lates.

Clare Louise Connolly, actress.