Where are they now?

Richie Smith – Associate director

Richie is currently (Spring 2026) living just outside Penzance in a rural idyll. Surrounded by nature, close to the sea, he is living the dream.

Always grateful for opportunities which have come his way, he took up a job with Penwith Landscape Partnership in 2018 which lasted for 5 years (Heritage Lottery funding came to an end) and now works part-time for Cornwall Heritage Trust as a Practical Tasks Officer leading groups of volunteers maintaining many ancient archaeological sites across West Penwith.

He regularly plays a side drum with the mighty Raffidy Dumitz Band, playing raucous Cornish folk tunes and attending various events at midsummer (Golowan), midwinter (Montol), and various Wassails and other Cornish celebrations around the seasons.

He has a project called Cymbalology (https://cymbalology.wordpress.com/) which involves hitting many cymbals and encouraging other people to do so too. A recent offshoot of this project is his new trio – Kymboss. 3 people, 24 cymbals. Look out for them – coming to a weird art/music venue near you soon.

He still makes award-winning, top quality Trinity Cider with his great friend Deekey McLuckie.

He recently found himself with a spare room, which is now gleefully populated by his drum kit and many other musical instruments, including a recently acquired synthesiser (which he is still trying to tame).

Listen to what he is up to here – https://soundcloud.com/richie-smith-607253611/sets/pillocks

He is one half of the experimental metal band The Daily Biggle with Dylan Bradley-Peer (https://thedailybiggle.bandcamp.com/album/mr-flyingboxes-sticklesbird AND https://soundcloud.com/richie-smith-607253611/sets/splinter)

He was recently part of an ensemble performing ‘Funeral’ by Ontroerend Goed theatre in Redruth.

He is now a member of the board of Wildworks.

In 2024 he re-vamped the infamous Balloon Toss at Lafrowda Festival, St. Just, as Cap’n Cliché aided by the well-dodgy Tremenheere Jen.

Richard Headon – Artistic Director

Since 1996 Richard has been a core element in evolution of Desperate Men.

He has devised & led much of the Company’s work over the years and remains on the bridge steering it along whilst it blasts into its 46^th year.

This year he will be out and about with Desperate Men’s latest creation, ‘The Composter’.

He will also be offering his performance & writing skills to the wider outdoor arts and events sector.

In the last year he has provided ideas, dramaturgy & direction to the ‘Wye Valley River Festival’, street performers ‘Jones & Barnard’, circus creator ‘Charles Brockbank’, arts input on the MV Balmoral with educationalists ‘My Future, My Choice’ whilst also inventing with the students at Circomedia.

He also has continued his fruitful theatrical relationship with Cirque Bijou.