Ian has written, directed and appeared in some of the biggest pantomimes in the country including Aladdin at the Grand Theatre Wolverhampton for Cannon and Ball, Babes in the Wood at the Theatre Royal, Nottingham for Little and Large, Dick Whittington for Timmy Mallet and Cinderella for Zoe Ball both at the Derngate Theatre, Northampton and, of course, the acclaimed production of Beauty and the Beast at the Oakengates Theatre,Telford last year.

 His career began at theTheatre Royal in Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent

working in every technical job back stage - as a sound engineer, flyman, spot operator and stage crew - followed by his first professional acting job in the children's theatre at Pwllheli

which led directly to numerous tours in Theatre in Education and seasons as a Street Entertainer and Juggler at Alton Towers  during which Ian was proud to appear in ...

Television appearances include Coronation Street, Dalziel and Pascoe, Dangerfield and Woof!

For Mark Cartier Productions Ian brilliantly adapted four children's classics Wind in the Willows, Pinocchio, Alice in Wonderland and The Tales of Hans Andersen which toured theatres through the UK.

Under the tutorage of Tony award-winning playwright, David Edgar, Ian studied at the University of Birmingham and achieved a Masters Degree in Playwriting Studies in 1999. He currently runs Theatre Works with BBC Radio Four playwright, Stephanie Dale, delivering vibrant and exciting literacy workshops into schools throughout the UK, Germany and Cyprus.

For more details of Theatre Works - click on the logo....

Ian was commissioned to write scripts for the most successful CBBC TV show ChuckleVision and now enjoys seeing his work broadcast throughout the world.

Here's Parts 1 and 2 of SEND IN THE CLONES

Sam Hawkins, Pirate Detective, and the Case of the Cutglass Cutlass - his first children's book - was published by Macmillan in 2003 followed by a sequel that went on to be recorded as a BBC Audio Book and proved very successful in North America.       Various short stories compilations followed and his book of children's poetry continues to be a big favourite in schools.

  Sam Hawkins has been reprinted  by Caboodle 

 In 2007 began performing stand-up comedy for kids in the Gilded Balloon at Edinburgh Festival Fringe (whilst also presenting his own radio show for Festival FM!). Ian Billings - Talking Pants - the giggle-riddled show for kids (and their keepers) - tours major theatres and festivals throughout the UK including the Glasgow Comedy Festival, the Leicester Comedy Festival, the Hull Comedy Festival and venues such as Beck Theatre, Hayes, The Egg, Theatre Royal, Bath, the Chipping North Theatre, the Lowry Theatre, Salford, the Wales Millennium Centre and the Norwich Playhouse. He was described by one young audience member as "the most imaginative adult I've ever met!" 

August 2009 Ian completed a hugely successful stand-up tour of Perth, Western Australia

 

performing 13 hit shows to hundreds of giggling little Ozzies !

 And in March 2010 he's packing his chuckle bag and taking the show to Cairo!

That's who he is…