Skatz is a multi-instrumental musician, singer songwriter, actor, playwright, poet, YouTube presenter, puppeteer, Creative Arts Therapist and former stand up comedian, born in the UK, lived and worked in County Kerry on the west coast of Ireland recently and gained Irish citizenship, and now lives in Malaga province on the south coast of Spain.
In the UK he was a member of the bands Woodstock and Bryter Layter, playing piano/keyboards, acoustic & electric guitar, ukulele, bass guitar, bazouki and various percussion instruments.
He has worked extensively in schools, both mainstream and special needs, using music, songs and rhythm to focus, relax, entertain and educate.
In Ireland Skatz teamed up with writer and musician Dezy Walls to produce their own Interfoolery show ‘Skatz n Walls’.
Skatz also co-starred in Dezy Walls’ musical ‘Not The Life I Ordered’ at the Small Roads Festival of Theatre and Food in Kenmare, Co. Kerry in 2016. An updated version of the show toured theatres in Kerry and Cork as part of the same festival in Sept-Nov 2017.
Skatz regularly and proudly worked in the UK with Bamboozle Theatre as a musician and actor in residency at schools specialising in working with children and adults with complex needs and their families. Bamboozle’s skilled team of artists are highly respected in their sensitive use of theatre and music to communicate deeply with some of the most challenging of special needs.
In the UK Skatz’ work included writing school anthems for 5 Birmingham schools; writing the music/script and starring in a Birmingham REP Theatre production; performing in an outdoor production created by The Core theatre at Corby Cube; and writing the script & songs and acting in a film commissioned by Birmingham REP in partnership with Mayfield Special School.
Just before moving to Ireland, Skatz won an Arts Council grant to research, write and perform his one man show, ‘Father Used To Say’, which toured theatres and community centres around Leicestershire to critical acclaim. The show was his swansong to the area he had called home for 30 years, a demonstration of all he had learned about writing and performing, and an acting and singing tour de force.
He also famously lost over 30kg, beat diabetes and presented a YouTube channel all about it with his wife Liz, as well as creating another YouTube channel called YouTooSpain where he helps people who plan to move to Spain like he did.
Andrew 'Skatz' Scattergood 