Leon Conrad (born 15 September 1965) is a British polymath: writer, story structure consultant, educator, and specialist in historic needlework techniques known particularly for historically-styled blackworkembroidery designs.
He trained in the Estill Voice Training method with Jo Estill, in Vocal Profile Analysis with Christina Shewell,[1] through the British Voice Association; and in voice with Janice Chapman. He studied physical theatre with Desmond Jones, theatre improvisation with Keith Johnstone, and mask theatre with Steve Jarand.
As a historic needlework practitioner, he was apprenticed to master embroiderer and specialist in Blackwork embroidery, Jack Robinson. Conrad went on to gain an MA degree in the History of Design and Material Culture of the Renaissance (V&A/RCA, 2005). His thesis was on the history of English 16th and 17th century woven and embroidered textile bookbindings.[2]
As a storyteller, Conrad has been studying the little-known Jewish oral storytelling tradition with Drust’syla Shonaleigh Cumbers since 2015.
Career
Background and work
Conrad worked as Musical Director in charge of school workshops for Opera Brava (1988–1990),[3] as Lecturer in Musical Theatre at the Maurice Lane Academy of Performing Arts and at Crawley College. He set up the UK’s first specialist voice consultancy, The Conrad Voice Consultancy, (1990), which became The Academy of Oratory (2012–).
As a specialist in historic needlework, Conrad has demonstrated, taught, and published needlework charts and kits inspired by historic techniques in the UK, Europe, and the USA. He founded his design company, Leon Conrad Designs in 1998. He has exhibited widely both as an individual artist and with The New Elizabethans Embroidery Group which he founded in 1997.[4]
Conrad was invited to be Poet-in-Residence at the First Edinburgh Food Festival (2006)[5] and invited back to be Poet-in-Residence at the Pleasance Theatre for the Edinburgh Fringe (2007).
As a tutor, Conrad is inspired by classical Liberal Arts education and specialises in tutoring gifted and twice exceptional students.[6]
He has participated in over 20 exhibitions and has taught at embroidery seminars in the UK and the United States. He is married to Tanya Conrad.
Books
“Story and Structure: A complete guide”, winner of the IPNE Nonfiction Book of the Year Award 2022,[8] finalist in The People's Book Prize 2022[9] and recipient of the BREW Seal of Excellence and two category titles of the BREW Book Excellence Award,[10] demonstrates a much wider application of story than generally assumed; presents new insights into story as a dynamic force of life (ISBN978-1906069254).
“Odyssey: Dynamic Learning System”, with David Pinto, an innovative approach to inspirational learning experiences (ISBN978-1782792963).
“History Riddles”, a collection of 30 riddles based on key people and events across a period of over 4,500 years (ISBN978-1782792949).
“Aesop The Storyteller”, a collection of 12 versified Aesopic Fables with CD (ISBN978-0955639104). Second edition print only (ISBN 978-0955639180), eBook (ISBN 978-0955639197), also available as an audio book.
Contributed blackwork embroidery designs to the book The Essential Guide to Embroidery, published in 2002 (ISBN1-85391-988-8).
Articles and reviews
“A Treatise on Plaited Braid Stitch: Parts 1 & 2”, in 'Fine Lines' [11]- the Magazine of the Historic Needlework Guild, Summer 2003, Vol 8, Issues 1 & 2, being the first correct demonstration of how the historic needlework stitch was worked in 400 years.
Numerous reviews for fringe theatre performances for the British Theatre Guide,[12] Broadway Baby,[13] and Remote Goat.[14]
Articles on classical Liberal Arts education, the application of George Spencer-Brown’s work to the practice of classical logic,[15] and the analysis of story structure.
Conrad's designs have been published in New Stitches Magazine,The Needleworker,Classic Stitches,Needlecraft,Cross-Stitch Gold, and FineLines
