Our Story
Sarah Jones and Peri Wagstaff founded Mess Up The Mess in Slough in 2005. Working with disadvantaged and hard to reach young people they developed productions including A Winters’ Tale and Threepenny Opera and pioneered the Apprentice Theatre Scheme for the Creative Academy and Arts of Council England.
Peri brought Mess Up The Mess to Wales in 2007. Based initially in the rural village of Brynaman, Mess Up The Mess worked with 150 young people from Wales, England and New Zealand over the internet to create Strangers, an original production exploring themes of being a stranger, cultural heritage, immigration and colonisation.
Sarah returned from New Zealand in 2009, and the company brought together 50 young people to work alongside professional artists and the wider community to research, write, perform and tour an original bilingual production commemorating the Miners’ Strike of 1984 from the perspectives of local women.
Now based in Ammanford, MUTM has worked with some of the most vulnerable and isolated young people in our communities, using theatre and the arts as powerful tools to engage and empower them to make their voices heard.
Over the following years, Mess Up The Mess delivered programmes of participatory youth and community projects and professional theatre for young audiences. You can view some of the highlights here.
MUTM is passionate about nurturing imagination, daring performance, and changing lives through all aspects of our work. The company is rooted in the Amman Valley but works across South Wales. Our work ranges from small-scale, issue-based workshops and preparation-for-work training to large-scale projects that address the difficult issues confronting young people today. MUTM challenges young people to believe in themselves and in their ability to make their world a better place.
Strangers International Youth Theatre Project, February 2008.
The Royal Absurdity Show A cabaret the Mess Up way, 2023
Queertawe Fringe
A celebration of queer life in Swansea, 2024
Staff
Artistic Director
Hello, I’m Sarah, Artistic Director of Mess Up The Mess which means I get to do lots of different things such as developing and delivering our creative programmes as well as running Tuesday and Thursday night Youth Theatre sessions in the Amman Valley and Community Action Projects across Wales. This means I get to work with lots of young people every day so I can hear all their ideas and support them to turn these into art which is lots of fun! I studied at the University of Wales, Aberystwyth gaining a BA(Hons) in Drama and went on to train at Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts gaining a Postgraduate Diploma in Theatre Directing. I have always been passionate about the power of Youth Arts to transform young people’s lives as it made such huge difference to me while I was growing up. I love to have my family and all my friends around me especially when there is a party going on and my most annoying habit in the office is probably asking for support with my IT issues – I swear its the laptop and not me!
Sarah Jones
Artistic Director
Youth Arts Facilitator
Hi I’m Jo, I support the running of weekly Dyffryn Aman Theatre sessions. I graduated from Swansea Metropolitan University achieving a BA(hons) in Performing Arts. My favourite form of theatre is Physical Theatre, I have had the amazing opportunity to perform with Volcano Theatre Company and Elan Wales in Italy and France. My passion for Physical Theatre started when I studied Performing Arts in Coleg Sir Gar. I love my makeup and also love my cat and dog (which the young people know very well). My most annoying habit in the Mess Up The Mess office is being a time optimist.e any opportunity to have a paddle in the sea! My worst habit in the MUTM office is getting drawn into other people’s conversations.
Jo Shackley
Youth Arts Facilitator
Executive Director (Designated Safeguarding Officer)
Hello I’m Chris, Executive Director of Mess Up The Mess, I started working for MUTM in 2015, I studied communication Studies in Coventry. Fun fact about me is I make my own bread.
Chris Lewis
Executive Director
Volunteer Engagement Co-Ordinator (Deputy Designated Safeguarding Officer)
Hello I’m Jay I am the Volunteer Engagement Co-Ordinator for Mess Up The Mess and I coordinate the Volunteering Project. I trained at Rose Bruford College where I achieved a BA(hons) Acting. I then went on to work as a professional actress and workshop facilitator in London for a number of years before returning to Wales to complete my PGCE in Post Compulsory Education. My favourite form of theatre is immersive theatre and love being transported to another world when watching a show. I love being on the beach with my Labrador and husband and 2 children and take any opportunity to have a paddle in the sea! My worst habit in the MUTM office is getting drawn into other people’s conversations.
Jay Smith
Volunteer Engagement Co-ordinator
Administrative Officer
Hi. I’m Lou, the Administrator for Mess Up the Mess. I’m the one who works behind the scenes – not backstage – you’ll usually find me in the office headquarters behind my desk surrounded by lots of files and spreadsheets.
Louise Waring
Administrative Officer
Board Directors
Peri Wagstaff (Chair)
Nina Vangerow
Rhian Davies
Callum Bruce Phillips
Artists & Alumni
We work with numerous freelance artists and organisations. Find out more here.