Bernadette Russell

Bernadette Russell is an accomplished storyteller, freelance writer, and theatre maker with extensive experience in performance and community engagement. Currently serving as a Storyteller and volunteer tree planting supervisor at Trees for Cities since September 2020, Russell’s literary contributions include the recently published "How To be Hopeful." A versatile writer, Russell has penned works for various genres, including plays and stories for performance, and has collaborated with notable organizations such as the National Theatre and Southbank Centre. In addition to writing, Russell is a public speaker focused on themes of kindness and mental health, and has a background as a comedian, performing under the names "Toni Galore" and "Fanny Peculiar." Russell holds a BA in Performing Arts, Theatre from Leicester Polytechnic and has received training from Ecole Philippe Gaulier and The Poor School.