In the late nineties, Karen Bartholomew was a bored PA working at the BBC. During lunch times, she wrote a show, quit her job, and took her first solo show 'Kiss My Honeymoon Lips' to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. She never looked back.

Her show was picked up with Edinburgh Nights. Mariella Frostrup interviewed her and loved the kitsch hairdressing comedy. The Scotsman thought otherwise and it suffered a one-star rating. Channel 4, sent Sarah Smith to interview artists with the dreaded one star. There's no such thing as bad PR, right? The show broke even (almost unheard of in Edinburgh), and the good, the bad, and the ugly of a month at the festival meant she wanted more for Motormouse Productions.

Revue shows, comedy sketches and a dabble with stand-up followed. She joined Player Playwrights and wrote 10-minute pieces which later evolved into full-length plays. 'God's Waiting Room' first appeared on the Camden Fringe, and encouraged by audience reaction, she produced her first touring production, supported by the Arts Council and crowdfunding measures. Described as an 'end of life comedy' Karen used humour to ease the most painful of subjects. The play was very successful and was later commissioned by NHS Medway, for further performances and forum work designed to support conversations around death. The play was also published and received consistently strong reviews.

Next up, is a subject close to Karen's heart, featuring adoption. Tired of the media portrayal, particularly with reunion shows, Karen blew through all that sentimental formulaic approach and wrote a raw, unexpected, and powerful drama, entitled 'Giving up Marty.' The production had a period of R&D, led by director, Annie Sutton, and was later developed for the Vaults Festival and theatre tour. The company worked closely with Coram, who hosted the first rehearsed reading of the play. The reaction that evening stunned everyone. When a story resonates so profoundly, then it's a story that needs to be told. The play was published, and both productions are hoped to have extended lives, as plans are being considered for their future.

Karen is an actress, playwright, and producer for Motormouse Productions. Her writing has been noted favourably in reviews. She is a joint winner of the StageWrite Award, nominated for the People's Choice Award with the Vaults, and a finalist with the Blackshaw Theatre Showcase.  Her plays have been commissioned by theatre companies, comedy events, and private and public sector clients. A generous and hugely creative writer, energetic and idea full, and always with a wink in her work. Karen writes the smiles even in the darkest subjects. It's the Motormouse signature. Enjoy your visit here.