House Header Productions

JJ Welles is a self described ‘multifaceted multi-hyphenate’: actor-performer-director-writer-facilitator. 

As “Head Honcho” of House Header productions, he believes that theatre should be for everyone, and as such, he aims to bring versatility, accessibility and diversity to their work. 

House Header’s first upcoming show, ‘Theo and the Teddysnatcher!’ is inspired by JJ’s background in children’s entertainment and family theatre. 

Alongside this, JJ has recently launched the ‘Step Out’ Dance Bootcamp. Inspired by his somewhat complicated relationship with dance, he created the intensive programme to help adult beginners (a demographic that he regularly teaches). Using dance, in combination with goal setting, mindfulness and wellbeing exercises, he aims to help improve their confidence, fitness, and self-image. The programme runs for five days, and culminates in the participants creating a professionally shot, group dance reel, which JJ hopes this will allow them to reflect on the experience, and help them remember what they can do when they step out of their comfort zone.

JJ has worked as a creative across a wide spectrum of the industry.

As a performer he regularly works as an actor, comedian, cabaret artist, drag & burlesque performer. He has worked across traditional, immersive and children’s theatre, circus, street theatre, cruise line entertainment and much more. 

As a freelance facilitator he has led workshops in performing, storytelling, circus, dance for companies such as Sam Bradshaw Productions and leo&hyde. He also teaches 1-2-1 lessons across Acting, Singing and Dance, as well as group classes on a freelance basis.

He performed and directed an extract of his one man play, ‘The Other F Word’ as part ‘Blast Fest’ at The Dukes Theatre, Lancaster, where it received great audience feedback. It is currently in development.

JJ has a First Class BA(Hons) in ‘Musical Theatre’ from ‘Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance’.

He intends to one day pursue a Masters Degree and maybe learn to drive - if he ever gets the time…

Dan Mawson is a sound designer, musician, writer and educator.

As ‘House Keeper’ of House Header, Dan is the keeper of the spread sheets, the writer of the diary, and tape-downer of the cables. He also is the boss man of harmony, music production and recording.

He works as a professional freelance sound designer for theatre (e.g. Liverpool Everyman, Birmingham Old Rep, The Turbine, The Lowry), immersive/site specific experiences (e.g. Muncaster Castle, Old Royal Naval College), and installations (e.g. National Trust, Light Up Lancaster).

As a writer, he is currently developing Galileo: an a cappella musical with Leo Mercer, which won the Stiles and Drewe Song Prize Voice Vision and Potential Award, and which George Stiles described as a “both original and immediately appealing.” He also was the writer of Gideon: a play with music, directed by Sue Dunderdale, which North West End gave 5-stars.

He cut his teeth as a musician (clarinet and sax), playing jazz and klezmer primarily. He’s an Honorary Research Fellow and Klezmer Tutor at the University of Manchester, and has won awards for his community intercultural education work with colleagues at UoM, which includes working with The Halle Orchestra.

Dan already has a Masters Degree (in Musicology) and is the designated company driver - much to JJ’s chagrin.