Action Hero

Action Hero is the collaboration between Gemma Paintin & James Stenhouse. They make performance & live art that is interested in pop cultural mythologies and the creation of temporary communities centred around the live event. Action Hero enjoy using audiences as collaborators and co-conspiritors, and their work often has a sense of the epic, even though it is played out through a lo-fi, DIY approach.

Action Hero’s work to date has been commissioned and supported by organisations across the UK and Europe, from large shiny arts centres and galleries to small DIY artist led collectives. Their work has toured extensively in the UK, Europe, North and South America and Asia. They have been involved in Residence from the start and they see Residence’s self-intiated artist development model as one of the key factors in their ability to make a living from their art.

Gemma & James have been making performance together as Action Hero since 2005. They both hold BA (hons) in Theatre and MA in Performance Studies from Bretton Hall, University of Leeds. Action Hero receive producing support from Theatre Bristol.

www.actionhero.org.uk twitter: @actionheroliv