John Topliff

I am a freelance writer, musician, performer and teacher. I work with my partner Gina on private and community projects in North West England.

Trained:
Stockport College of Technology (1976) Graphic Design, Photography, Business and Marketing; Manchester School of Music (1981); James Watt College, Greenock Scotland (2002) Stage Combat; Blackpool and The Fylde College (2005) Cert Ed; Lancaster University (2007) BA (Hons) English Language Literature and Writing.

Recent Workshops: Boal Imaging: Theatre of the Oppressed, Pinter in Performance, Greek Theatre, Brecht in Performance, Voice to Text, Creative Writing.

Music Work: Bands: ‘John Topliff’s Stage Fright’ (1977); Tameside Music Festival, Poynton Folk Festival; ‘The Outpatients’ (1981);‘The Circuit’ (1982) (as songwriter) recorded at Strawberry Studios, Stockport; ‘Doodley Squat and the Shude ‘B’ Band’ (1983-5) Hayfield Jazz Festival; ‘The Big River Band’ (1986-88);‘Liberty Hill’ (1988-89 German Tour); ‘Moritz’ (1990); ‘Kamara’ (1991-2003) UK, Yugoslavia, Caribbean and Mediterranean cruises, Ibiza (2000).

Instruments: Guitar, Keyboards, Bass, Percussion and Vocals


Theatre includes: ‘Viva Diva!’ (2000/2002) Written and performed by John Topliff and Gina T Frost; ‘The Green Room’ Thornton Little Theatre (2006)

Television includes: ‘Ibiza 2000’ LWT, Sky TV.

Teaching: Blackpool and the Fylde College: English, Drama, Expressive Arts, Song Writing and Creative Writing.

Funded Projects: ‘Listen to Me’- Blackpool Council Adult and Community Learning (2006); ‘Music in Mind’ - Blackpool Council Adult and Community Learning/National Lottery (2006-2009) Blackpool CATS (Creative Arts Team)

Current Projects: ‘Cassandra’ (Music Album); ‘Pearls of Wisdom’ (Burlesque); ‘Point of Departure’ (Play)

Associations: Equity; Member of the Institute for Learning

Age: Mind your own business.