The Glamophone & Muse: Laura Frances Martin for BikeLights 2017: Pic John Wareham
As a Spotlight Actress my professional performing credits, skills & showreel are listed in full on SpotlightI've been a member of Equity since 2007.

I currently work as a performer in film & TV, site specific theatre and live art. Lead film roles have included the title role in GWENEVERE (Dir. Philip Reeve: 2023) and female lead Fiona Mayberry in TINK'S KITCHEN (Dir. Henry Davies: 2008). 

I'm currently in the early stages of writing treatments and scripts for two film projects, and also recently wrote, directed & performed in the first outing of a new street theatre & live art project - TIMEPIECE - which brings to life characters and retells stories from local history in innovative and entertaining ways. More below!
Laura Frances-Martin headshot 2019 by Thom Axon
Background & training 
I really enjoyed dance drama clubs at school, but it wasn't until I was studying on an Art & Design BTEC and lined up for a Crafts Degree at Crewe that I tried my first proper contemporary dance classes, and joined the Apprentices drama group at North Devon College. 

I subsequently switched to a Dance & Visual Arts BA Hons on my arrival at Crewe and, after completing a first year there, transferred to Dartington College of Arts to gain a 1st Class BA Hons in Theatre with a Dance specialism - where I enjoyed training with some inspirational teachers in a beautiful setting, and had a brilliant 3rd year at the Rotherhithe Theatre Workshop in London.
Laura Frances-Martin headshot 2019 by Thom Axon
Landmarks: International TheatreSchool Festival In De Nes: Photo Ami Lee
Physical theatre, film & TV
After graduating from Dartington with a 1st Class BA Hons Degree, I worked as a devised and physical theatre performer in Devon, Scotland, Bristol and Amsterdam and with companies including Theatre of Public Works and Les Anges, and took my own show 'Landmarks' to the International TheatreSchool Festival 'In De Nes'. 
Since moving to Cornwall, alongside other work I've appeared in a range of SW site specific theatre & dance projects, TV & film roles, including the female leads in Gwenevere with award-winning writer/director Philip Reeve (Mortal Engines, Here Lies Arthur) in 2023, and in the acclaimed Cornish feature, Tink's Kitchen with writer/director Henry Davies in 2008.
Dance 
When first in Cornwall I joined a small but ambitious contemporary dance group led by dancer/teacher Jan Man, and I co-founded M-Squared - a performance & training collective that ran for several years, working across dance, visual media & film - with Penzance-based practitioner Caroline Schanche. I also danced with Gill Clarke at Tate St Ives for Partial Sitings, Full View, part of As Dark As Light in 1999, and with Birch & O’Shea's Territory One residency and performance at Falmouth College of Arts in 1998. I performed with Angela Praed Dance Productions in Duets for Unusual Souls in 2008 and in 2009, and again in her Five Songs on the Rooftops project in Truro in 2010 (pictured: photo by Steve Tanner).
Five Songs on the Rooftops: Angela Praed. Image by Steve Tanner
'The Hoss's Lament' ship lantern and figurehead, created and performed by Laura Frances Martin for Kneehigh Theatre's Random Acts of Art 2021. Photo: Steve Tanner
Characters for commissions 
I love adding performative elements in to my sculptural commissions, creating characters to appear with them wherever possible. These have included: an Amelia-Earhart style Aviatrix riding a Damselfly, and a Ring Mistress keeping her cycling circus bear in check, both for BikeLights; a Mary Poppins-inspired character dressed in the colours of a Cornish Chough to accompany the Early Bird in the Words In Woods festival with KEAP and IntoBodmin; and a 'Spirit of Ecstasy'-inspired illuminated cycling Muse to accompany her giant 'Glamophone', again for BikeLights. More recently, for Kneehigh's Random Acts of Art, The Hoss's Lament: a weathered figurehead, left, accompanying her ghost ship through the streets and the quays of Mevagissey at twilight as she sings a lament to lost things... (photo by Steve Tanner, song by Jim Carey & Carl Grose)

Voice
As well as voice-overs & vocal work on arts projects, adverts and radio shows, I've also sung with several Cornwall-based vocal groups. I was a founder member of Cornish all-female shanty group Femmes De La Mer, led by musical director Claire Ingleheart (pictured with me here) - whose Suitcase Singers choir I also sang with for a time; and I also co-founded and sang with four-part female harmony group The Sound Outfit from 2015-2018. 
Claire Ingleheart and Laura Frances Martin of Femmes De La Mer performing at  the International Sea Shanty Festival
The Hoss's Lament: lantern and figurehead character in performance: Laura Frances Martin
TIMEPIECE brings place-based historical stories and characters to life through an exciting combination of illuminated arts, new writing, music, live theatre - and Time Travel!  

We launched the idea with TIMEPIECE: Tempus Fugitives! in Bodmin in March 2026, supported by Experience Bodmin, FEAST, IntoBodmin & Bodmin Town Council - exploring five fascinating characters and some of the fabulous heritage stories behind Bodmin's curious connections with Time! 

We’re delighted to be offering more Bodmin shows in September 2026 - more details coming soon - along with some lovely new retellings of Arthurian legends and tales in Tintagel in 2027. 

We'd also love to apply this approach to other sites. Do get in touch if you're interested in commissioning us.
And you can read what Experience Bodmin said about our work!
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