John Webber
An experienced professional actor, I am a writer of exciting, moving stories about people who struggle to be heard by those they love - or those who govern them.
As a coach, I am highly experienced in helping others tell compelling stories that differentiates them in person or online, in business or through performances in front of an audience.
About John Webber
I am a working-class artist who grew up on a council estate in Thurrock, Essex. I received a First Class Honours degree in Drama from Bangor University and studied acting at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama. My acting career started in theatre for young people, working on new plays and devised pieces which then toured. As an actor I have worked at the Royal National Theatre and at regional theatres around the UK. Television credits include EastEnders, Coronation Street, A Touch of Frost and Doctor Foster.
My first play Spiderfly was produced by Metal Rabbit at Theatre503 and then nominated for an OFFIE Award in 2019. It is published by Nick Hern Books. I was a BRIT Program Guest Artist at the University of South Florida, where my commissioned adaptation of Emma by Jane Austen was performed. My play, Wake Up People, is a Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch commission. I was a Colchester Mercury Playwright 2022-23, a recipient of a Peggy Ramsey Foundation Grant in 2023 and now part of the Adopt A Playwright Scheme. I will be touring Fire Fire, my play about climate protest, in the East of England in 2026 in association with High Tide and Harlow Playhouse.
For over 20 years I have shared my understanding of performance and storytelling with people working in a wide range of businesses so that they can communicate with impact, ease and a flexible mindset.
Spiderfly
Produced by Metal Rabbit at Theatre503
Cast Lia Burge
Matt Whitchurch
Venue Theatre503, London
Director Kirsty Patrick Ward
Designer Lizzie Leech
Sound Dominic Brennan
Stage Manager Rose Hockaday
Ass. Director Lucy Grace McCann
Casting Christopher Worrall
Producers George Warren & Sofi Berenger
Ass. Producer Oliver Seymour
Published by Nick Hern Books:
Spiderfly began its life as a short ten-minute Rapid Write Response play that was performed at Theatre503 before being expanded and developed through the Park Theatre's Script Accelerator Programme and with some support from Old Vic New Voices.
The story focusses on Esther, a woman grieving the death of her sister, who decides to visit in prison the man who was convicted of her sister's murder but who denies responsibility - Keith. But over a number of meetings Esther's stated reason for coming becomes unpicked as does Keith's denials and justifications for his view of the world, meaning their relationship turns into a twisty, dark power struggle for supremacy.
The play is for two actors (1 female, 1 male) and would suit a studio space.
"There’s actually quite a lot of humour, but it’s always jarring; absurd laughs crop up at totally inappropriate moments. Webber has shown here he can create something distinctive and involving from a relatively straightforward concept, and he has the potential to write brilliant stuff." Exuent Magazine.
Fire Fire
In Association with High Tide and Harlow Playhouse
Fire Fire is a play set in the world of climate protest and looks at how class can affect attitudes to climate change.
Paige is a passionate middle-class climate activist from Colchester. Eddie is a retired oil worker from Thurrock and a ‘gammon’. Needless to say, when they meet after Paige’s climate protest has disrupted Eddie’s memorial for his brother, it isn’t a happy first meeting. However, when Paige’s girlfriend dumps her when she refuses to have a child in a climate crisis and Eddie discovers that like his brother he has a work related illness, an unlikely alliance forms, resulting in a monumental - and explosive - protest deep inside the Dartford Tunnel.
Written when I was part of Colchester Mercury Playwrights scheme, the play had an Arts Council England funded R&D at the Mercury in February 2025. It is being developed in association with High Tide and will tour in Autumn 2026 with their support as well as the backing of Harlow Playhouse.
I am currently producing the show with Jennifer Tang attached as director and George Warren as Executive Producer. Fire Fire will visit venues in the East of England and include Chelmsford Theatre, Eastern Angles Centre, Colchester Mercury, Cambridge Junction, the Seagull Lowestoft, and The Garage Norwich after a run in London.
The play is for three actors (1 male, 2 female) and is designed for studio spaces and touring.
An Arts Council England funded R&D was held at the Mercury Theatre Colchester in February 2025, finishing with a sharing on Valentine's Day.
Pictured is writer John Webber and director Jennifer Tang with actors Akiya Henry (Paige), Jay Simpson (Eddie) and Amy Cudden (Mel).
Acting
After graduating from the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, I worked with theatre outreach companies and young people's theatre around the UK. I devised and developed numerous shows before taking them to non-theatre venues in local communities.
My first main house show was Romeo and Juliet at Sheffield Crucible directed by Michael Rudman and I have gone on to work at a number of other regional theatres as well as the Royal National Theatre under the direction of Jeremy Herrin, Thea Sharrock and Howard Davies.
TV credits include: A Touch of Frost, Hollyoaks, Coronation Street, EastEnders, Doctor Foster, Bombshell, The Bill and Birds of a Feather.
I am represented by The Narrow Road Company.
Coaching for Business
I have worked with a diverse range of people in the workplace for over 20 years, helping them develop their communication so that they can connect, collaborate and create change. Their businesses are based all over the world, meaning I engage with them both in person and online, and their sectors include banking and insurance, tech and telecommunications, food production and FMCG, broadcasting, health services, charities, government agencies and with the Big Four firms.
Coaching One to One
You probably know that telling a clear, compelling and relatable narrative around what you are trying to achieve is critical if you want to influence other people and get them to go on a journey with you.
But this can be difficult.
The stress can affect your composure, your reasoning and your connection with them.
These 50 minute one to one sessions are an opportunity for you to rehearse your argument, your mindset and your connection to other people. By the end of each session, you will feel more confident and have an flexible approach that can be applied to mutiple situations, whether is a conversation with one person or a presentation in front of many.
Coaching in Groups
By working in a small group you will be able to grow your confidence, share experiences and enjoy achieving a successful outcome with others. You will bounce ideas, share feedback and learn from watching as well as participating in a practical, enjoyable way.
These sessions - specifically designed for the needs of each group - combine the learning of current ideas around communication with practice and rehearsal. Each person walks away with specific guidance on how to apply the learning with a simple, flexible approach applicable to many real world scenarios.
Coaching Online
The current workplace is fast paced and dynamic meaning you and your team are always looking for ways to grow and develop in a convenient, approachable and easily absorbed way.
These online sessions - whether one to one or in a group - make it even easier for you to practice and rehearse critical conversations or presentations. In addition, sharing tips and tricks used by broadcasters - as well as the lived experience of extensively delivering training online - means I can help make your online meetings impactful, alive and memorable.
Modules
These modules allow you, your team or your business to focus on a particular area of development. Each training course is design specifically for your needs using core principles developed over two decades of experience, meaning each person walks away with easily applicable techniques tailored to their needs.
Presenting
Presenting your idea in front of a group of a people is a fantastic way to galvanise them, share your vision and make a personal impact.
But it can be hugely stressful meaning you can struggle to connect with them or your topic.
I can give you the tools to structure your presentation using storytelling techniques so that you and the audience feel comfortable as well give tips on how to use slides compellingly and to have a performance mindset that releases your potential.
Critical Conversations
Having meaningful conversations with colleagues is critical if you want to be successful in your career or vocation. This can be to give feedback, influence a certain outcome or have your voice heard by others.
Often the need to succeed puts pressure on you and this affects your ability to be flexible and present enough to deal with what comes back.
Rehearsing the conversation with me using simple models and building blocks will give you the confidence to deliver a positive outcome and the tools to approach other similar conversations.
Differentiate Yourself
Sometimes it's important to stand out from the crowd, whether it's in an interview, in a meeting with a potential client or at a networking event.
In these important moments the stress can mean we focus on facts that have less impact than stories, become self-conscious and are too focused on our own needs.
By having a clear story about yourself based on your values and your qualities can help you be clearly defined in the minds of others. It will also help relax you and refocus your attention so that the conversation becomes easier.
I can help build your story and give you tips and tricks to differentiate you.
Silja Redczus
Founder, MIMO
Mindfulness & More
I really appreciate his way of delivering training - with practicality, clarity and to the point - leveraging his vast experience in both the world of performance and the business world to create real impact. Also, it was really smooth to collaborate with him: He was receptive to feedback, had great ideas and delivered at a consistent very high quality. He received consistent great feedback from participants and enabled lasting change.
John is a brilliant trainer, actor and human being. Full of passion, creativity and kindness, I've witnessed him deliver plenty of impactful programmes for our leadership and the outcome/feedback is beyond satisfactory.
Coaching for Writers
Writing for performance can feel like a vocation that is richly satisfying when actors speak your lines and recreate your scenarios for a watching audience.
Whether you are a beginner or have some experience, you'll be aware that it can be a challenge getting from an initial idea to the end goal of a rehearsal ready script.
As a commissioned, performed and published playwright, I know what it's like to go through each stage of creating an entertaining, meaningful piece for performance and how to manage the writing and how to work with other creatives along the way.
I can help by offering dramaturgy or advice or just being a sounding board for whatever you want to discuss that's connected to the sometimes lonely experience of being a writer.
Services for Writers
I am a produced and published playwright with experience of raising money for R&D sessions and for productions. I can help you achieve the core purpose of writing for performance: developing a high quality script that is performed in front of an audience.
Script Reading
Getting to that stage of knowing your script is at the right level for you to share it with significant people or organisations is incredibly important.
Sometimes it's difficult to have the objectivity to know if the document is at that stage.
I can read your script and give you actionable notes so that you can then decide whether to develop your script further with assurance or to send it out with confidence.
Dramaturgy
Developing a script has some clear stages: at first, there is the dreaming stage in which ideas are thrown around, early drafts are created and anything goes; then there is the shaping stage when the internal logic of the world is honed, structure is secured and you ask yourself of each element, does it work?; and finally there is the simplifying stage in which you polish and edit, unifying the themes and making the piece whole.
I can talk to you about your script and where it is in this journey so that you can progress - or complete - the project with clarity.
Grant Applications
The purpose of writing for performance is to have your piece put in front of an audience.
The current climate for new writing is challenging and the number of theatres producing new plays has declined over the last few years.
One option is to initiate a project yourself by raising money through Arts Council grants or other bodies like the Peggy Ramsey Foundation.
I have successfully applied for ACE funding (in the under £30k, over £30k and touring strands) as well as for a Peggy Ramsey Foundation Grant. I can talk through this with you and assist you with your applications.
Connect with John
Contact Information
Reach out to John for commissions, collaborations, or to explore ways of working together.