Ian has a long career as an Actor and Director. After many years in repertory theatres, Ian spent five years with the RSC. Highlights there include; the Fool in King Lear, Hortensio in The Taming of the Shrew and Trinculo in The Tempest.

He was Artistic Director of The Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre for twenty years directing many productions and performing as Bottom in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Launce in Two Gentlemen of Verona, Dogberry in Much Ado About Nothing and Lord Brockhurst in The Boyfriend.

In the West End he has played: Mr Jolly in the Original Cast of Mrs. Doubtfire (Shaftesbury Theatre); Bert Baxter in The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole Aged 13 ¾ (Ambassadors Theatre); Baptista in Kiss Me Kate (Royal Albert Hall Proms); Wilbur in Hairspray (Shaftesbury); Toby Belch in Twelfth Night (Inner Temple); Max in Lend Me A Tenor (Gielgud); Stanley Gardner in Run For Your Wife (Duchess); P.C. Boot in Salad Days (Duke Of Yorks) and eleven Christmas seasons playing Toad in Toad Of Toad Hall. Other appearances include Alphabetical Order (National Tour) and Ring of Truth (Orange Tree).

Television includes: Ridley, Midsomer Murders, Poirot and Dr. Who.

Numerous directing credits include: Yeoman Of The Guard (Savoy Theatre); Peter Pan (Royal Festival Hall); High Society (Shaftesbury Theatre and national tour); The Pirates of Penzance (West Yorkshire Playhouse and national tour); Anything Goes (national tour); Kiss Me Kate (Brisbane Festival); Lend Me A Tenor The Musical (Gielgud Theatre); Noises Off (Birmingham Rep); Million Dollar Quartet (South Bank); Eugenius! (The Other Palace); Priscilla Queen of the Desert (UK Tour); The Mousetrap (St. Martin’s Theatre); White Christmas (UK Tour) and many overseas tours and Pantomimes.

Ian was awarded an O.B.E. for his work at The Open Air Theatre in 2007.