Dave Carey

Dave Carey studied Performing Arts at Middlesex University and William Patterson College, USA. On gaining a BA (hons) in performing arts he joined a specialist music publisher before returning to playing the keyboards with The Hollies, touring and recording extensively.

 In 1987 he joined Chickenshed, becoming a full-time staff member in 1995. Since then he has written much of Chickenshed’s output including the critically acclaimed As the mother of a brown boy...  and Crime of the Century both in collaboration with Chris Niering. Most recently they produced the domestic abuse play In the absence of Silence.  His other credits include The Rain That Washes, Globaleyes, and Slender Threads.  As a writer/composer he has also completed over a dozen Christmas shows.

He has written music and created sound design for many companies including a Chinese adaptation of Frankenstein (Inside Out Theatre, Beijing) and with Border Crossings on their series of collaborations with Ashtar Theatre in Palestine. 

He has been heading up Chickenshed’s D&I training since 2017. This area of work has seen dramatic growth to become a key part of Chickeshed’s portfolio.  

His passion for international theatre has led him to far-flung places of the earth, running and creating projects and shows in Shanghai, Malawi, Moscow and Helsinki amongst others. His most recent project is working with orphaned girls to create a piece of theatre that tells their stories in Shijiazhuang, China.