WHO ARE WE?

Actors and producers Ken Boyter and Vickie Holden established The Bottled Imp Theatre Company in 2017, specifically to adapt and devise The Storyteller’s Apprentice from the illustrated fantasy verse storybook The Legends of Grimous Ironblood written by Ken Boyter and illustrated by Rich Nairn. Ken said of the play, “We both love myths and fables, and the tradition of storytelling. We wanted to reflect the wonder and magic of the spoken word through the relationship of a storyteller and his apprentice.”    

KEN BOYTER - Writer, Actor, Presenter

Ken Boyter has been writing since childhood. He has always loved stories and storytelling, especially those set in medieval and fantasy worlds. He also writes, presents and generates ideas for his fantasy YouTube channel called The Bottled Imp, co-created with Julian Newman Turner, where they explore the realms of fantasy.

Ken has had several short stories published, and three plays and two musicals for children performed. As an actor, he has appeared in over 20 short films and 7 features, 4 plays and over 200 murder mysteries. He has also written a an epic illustrated children’s medieval fantasy verse storybook, The Legends of Grimous Ironblood, for ages 8 upwards, recounting the legendary myths, tales and stories of healer and Arch-Mage Grimous Ironblood.

Ken is inspired by a wide range of influences, including The Lord of the Rings; A Game of Thrones; The Pillars of the Earth; Jim Henson’s The Storyteller; the novels of Philip K. Dick and Terry Pratchett; and any obscure folk tale or old myth, as well as books on magic, history, or spiritual and religious matters.

Ken Boyter has performed in various plays including Kate Miller’s The Last Witch, First Light, and Seeing It Through, as well as writing various stage plays including Evelyn and the Hall of Decades, and The Sisters of Berkeley Square. His new play Dreading the Boards for Christmas will be performed at Hertford Theatre in January 2019.

Ken Boyter

Grimous Ironblood

The Bottled Imp

VICKIE HOLDEN - Storyteller and Actor

Vickie Holden is an award-winning writer, performer and storyteller and since graduating from The Actors Institute in 1997, Vickie has built up considerable experience in street theatre, corporate / event-based theatre, storytelling, children's theatre, educational theatre and corporate role-play. She has worked for Scat Theatre Co Portsmouth, Barking Dog Theatre Company, The Comic Character Creations Company, Natural Theatre Company, New Vic Theatre Stoke-on-Trent, Laughlines Entertainment and Freshwater Theatre Company, Millfield Theatre, Lapland UK, and Edfringe 2016 among others.

Vickie has a down-to-earth approach and is an expressive, physical and intelligent performer who loves playing comedy characters and bringing them to life from the page.  She is passionate about live performance, especially as a medium for engaging young people and bringing families together. Vickie sees theatre in all its forms, as fun, challenging, and an exciting form of escapism. Her work has been featured at Dulwich Picture Gallery and the V&A museum.

VICKIE HOLDEN