Toby Farrow

Creative Director. Playwright. Photographer.

United Kingdom

About

**Messaging to catch and keep more customers** Develop compelling Brand-Bait, Service-Hook, and Sales-Reel Storylines to engage and retain a larger audience. Hide the Shark offers Storyline narratives designed to help local, national, and international organisations promote their brands, products, and services more effectively. Achieve success through improved communication. www.hidetheshark.com

Experience

  • Playwriting Lecturer at Bristol Old Vic Theatre School
    Mar 2026 - Present · 5 mos

    Sculpting and delivering playwriting courses.

  • Creative Director (freelance) at boomsatsuma
    Jan 2026 - Present · 7 mos

    A seven-month freelance Creative Director role to develop and launch Create Agency, a new creative studio designed to give recent SEND graduates experience of delivering live client projects in a professional studio environment. I shaped the studio's vision, led brand development, mentored trainees, collaborated with senior Boomsatsuma staff, and built a diverse client base spanning local businesses and organisations, including Sirona Health (NHS), Young Carers, and Bath Spa University. I also oversaw pitching, client relationships, project delivery, quality assurance and day-to-day studio operations.

  • Owner / Creative Director at Hide the Shark - Creative Studio
    Mar 2017 - Present · 9 yrs 5 mos

    Messaging. Brand Development. Copywriting. Design. Develop compelling Brand-Bait, Service-Hook, and Sales-Reel Storylines to catch and keep more customers. Hide the Shark offers Brand Development and Storyline narratives and design designed to help local, national, and international organisations promote their brands, products, and services more effectively. “Words are the world’s oldest and most powerful sales device. I’ll help you use them well.”

  • Owner / Photographer & Videographer at Toby Farrow Photography
    2005 - Present · 21 yrs 7 mos

    Arts photographer (photographing over 1000 shows), specialising in creative performance and portraiture for a wide range of national clients, with my work regularly appearing in the national press. My work also encompasses corporate documentary, portraiture, and self-commissioned passion projects.

  • Monologue Specialist, Playwright, Theatre Director, Performer, Scriptwriter, Dramaturg at Scriptwriter and Dramaturg
    1996 - Present · 30 yrs 7 mos

    Continue to work as an acclaimed Playwright and Theatre Director with a portfolio of productions across the country and in London. Companies written for include Bristol Old Vic (former writer in residence), The Bush, The Royal Court, Southwark Playhouse, BAC, Birmingham Rep and Paines Plough. "A show that sends you off beaming and sharing favourite moments from a hugely charismatic couple of hours." ***** The Guardian “Farrow writes accessible, contemporary scripts that blend whip-crack dialogue and surreal comedy.” INDEPENDENT "A stunning new production...the comedy works on many levels." ***** WhatsOnStage Recent work includes adaptations of "The Adventures Of Pinocchio" ("I have never laughed so much at a Christmas show." ***** THE GUARDIAN) and "A Christmas Carol" (**** THE GUARDIAN) for Tobacco Factory Theatres and the development of Kazuo Ishiguro's novel "The Unconsoled" with Martin Constantine at the National Theatre Studio.