It is with a sense of real sadness that we have to say a final farewell to one of our emerging artists and friend Eric James Dean who passed away earlier this month.

Eric joined Collective Encounters a number of years ago and toured with the show, Cracked and also performed in the interactive music video, Keep Pushing. Eric was a positive, hard-working member of the team. Eric has a passion for acting and a great command of character. He would light up the stage and often have his acting colleagues in stitches.

Many at Collective Encounters go to know Eric personally. He was a loyal friend and would go out of his way to help if he could. He loved people and always made a point of reaching out to new group members and making them feel instantly welcome, he remembered details about everyone and never failed to ask how people were doing and how were their children, partners or animals.

Eric’s life has been cut short and it is a tragedy this kind and genuine man will not be able to realise the big plans he had for this future.

Here at Collective Encounters he will be hugely missed.

Our thoughts go out to his friends and family at this sad time.