How did it all begin?

TJ&M (TwoJens&Me) was formed at the end of 2018. Three friends who met at the Rep's Adult drama classes, all decided that they wanted to create a piece of theatre. They were Jennifer Mayo, Jenny Northam & Michael Harris.

Michael had just published a novel 'Escape from Marriage' which told the story of a man who became the victim of domestic abuse, so the three decided that they would choose that as their subject. Having never written a full play before Michael agreed to give it a go - just over a week later the three met in Michael's flat for the first reading of the play award winning play which is now called ‘A Matter of Law’.   The play allowed the audience to become the jury in the trial of an alleged Female Abuser and went on to win 'Best New Piece' at the 2019 Birmingham Fest.

During the preparations for the festival, Michael wrote the next play 'For Those We Leave Behind'. This powerful play tackles the subject of Cancer.   We are able to witness the effects on two families.  Two ladies from totally different backgrounds become like sisters through the tragedy that is cancer.

Sadly, Jennifer due to the Covid and increasing family and work commitments was not able to direct this time, and Jenny while staying linked to us felt that she needed to step down from the management team. So, Michael took on the role of Director as well as the writer.

Then in March 2020, we were all set to put FTWLB on stage at the YMCA, but sadly Covid had other plans. The show was put on ice.

During the lockdown, Michael persuaded other actors to make Online versions of both plays using Zoom and virtual backgrounds to film the actors.

Finally, as we started to come out of the lockdown, we started to get the show ready for the 2021 Birmingham Fest. Sadly the 2020 Festival got cancelled. The show played to good-sized audiences, and it was very well received.

During the lockdown, Michael wrote the play for 2022's Festival 'Four to Jump'.

This play was a black comedy tackling the subject of suicide.  Four people all chose the same day, the same time and the same window ledge to commit their solo act of suicide.  They must now contend with the three other people. The actors played the scenes on a ledge just over a metre above the stage.

Then in May 2022 - AMOL Was Back!

In 2022 we revisited ‘A Matter of Law’ outside of the festival window at the Blue Orange Theatre. Michael wrote a revised full-length version of A Matter of Law.  Act 1 was the case for the prosecution and act two the case for the defence.  It came to the Blue Orange Theatre stage in May 2022.

Birmingham Fest 2023:

In 2023 we brought the play 'Trapped' to the festival, written and directed by Michael, and with Mitch Lockett as the character Thomas.  It showed us one man's struggle with his own mental health, coping with PTSD brought on by a car crash, in which ‘Mummy’ died.

Also in 2023 we introduced Ms Olini - and old school, live singing comedy drag queen to our company.  She started in the May taking part in Drag Idol UK at Eden Bar and also in Blackpool at Sherlocks. She went on to take part in various other events and competitions.  She loves to sing, and host karaoke.

In 2024 we broke from our norm, and we produced an Adult Panto – Ms Olini and the three bears, the hunt for the holy grail of Dildos.

This was hard work to produce, and Michael wrote, directed and then acted as Ms Olini.

We have also taken the decision to re-brand Ms Olini - she will become Mamma Taylor-Woe.   We have invested in a brand new wig and also had one of her old ones restyled.  She will be starting work again very soon.

2025 we have decided to return to our normal format, and we are currently deciding which subject we want to cover.  

TwoJens& Me Theatre Company continues to work to create theatre that counts.