Meet the team

Aileen trained as an actor at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama. She has worked for over 30 years and works professionally in film, theatre, television and radio. She has worked extensively for over 20 years with the Royal Shakespeare Company and continues to work with them as an actor, writer, director, dramaturge and education practitioner.

Her recent book publication Shakespeare and Meisner for Bloomsbury/ Arden co-written with Dr Tracy Irish outlines her pioneering authentic acting Gonsalves Method which she teaches globally as well as at London’s leading drama schools including RADA. Bloomsbury have just commissioned ‘An Introduction to the Gonsalves Method’.

She teaches her pioneering Gonsalves Method at London’s leading drama schools including RADA. She is the Founder of Butterfly Theatre and an associate director at Kali Theatre which focuses on empowering new women writers of South Asian descent.

Lorna Rees is Artistic Director of Gobbledegook Theatre, a multidisciplinary arts practice who make innovative national and international touring work for the outdoors.

She is a political, environmental and community activist, making interventions under the title of ‘Disruption and Joy’ which include local and national protests, conducting Wassails and being The High Priestess of Pop (with attending Disco Druids). Her major work ‘Ear Trumpet’ has toured for a decade and ‘Cloudscapes’ for eight.

Lorna is also a dramaturg, and occasional songwriter and musician. In the May of 2020 she won the Coronavision song contest which is now archived in the British Library. Lorna trained at the Central School of Speech and Drama and is Co-Chair of Outdoor Arts UK.

Photo by Jayne Jackson

Molly Scarborough is a performer, producer and sometimes clown. As a performer she creates intimate autobiographical works that confront and question the limitations of her body - addressing and interrogating the taboo subject which is her body, inviting audience and community members to discuss the fat female form.

Amy is an accomplished musician and performer with a successful career as a composer, singer and musical comedian. As well as composing for theatre companies including Take Back Theatre and Dark Horse Theatre, Amy composes educational pop songs for Oxford University Press and has written jingles for BBC Radio and YouTuber, Max Fosh. Amy has written her own one woman musical comedy show which received critical acclaim at the 2023 Edinburgh Festival for “a divinely constructed comedy hour” (Playbill). She will be returning to Edinburgh in 2024 and hoping for another sell out run!

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Photo by Karla Gowlett

Elise is a multidisciplinary theatre maker, actor and LGBTQIA+ activist. She is a hull born performer and has taken her autobiographical show ‘Bad Jokes about Men’ to Manchester and London. Elise’s creative practice takes inspiration from feminism, queerness, and body positivity. She uses Videography, makeup artistry and musical composition as a tool to tell real life stories. Most recently, Elise founded and organised Beverley towns first ever pride event which was celebrated on ITV and local radio stations. She is an active member of the queer community and works to organise inclusive and accessible events LGBTQIA+ people in her local area.

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Photo by Victoria Smith

Recent theatre includes: Lila in Beige (MAGNA), Duncan in Macbeth (Rabble), Performer in Never Better (Strike A Light), Scrooge in A Christmas Carol (Rabble); Grandmama in the award-winning Little Mermaid (Pins and Needles and The Egg, Bath Theatre Royal); Claire in Falling (Theatre Alibi); Memory Points (Platform 4) which was part of the Secret Southbank season, The Mysterious Vanishment of Pobby and Dingan (Travelling Light).

Other recent credits include: Pam Murphy in The Dragon Man (Radio 4); Avril in Three Girls (BBC1); Sarah in Unspeakable (Channel 4); The Interrogation of Tony Martin and The Cure (Channel 4).

Photo by Jennie Scott

Susanna Amato is am a Global Majority/MENA actress, clown, director and theatre-maker from Northampton, and newly based in Bristol. She has trained at Ecole Philippe Gaulier and the University of Salford, and with some of the world’s most prominent practitioners: Sinead Rushe, Spymonkey, John Wright & Jim Cartwright and at the National Youth Theatre.

She is are motivated to tell stories about the human condition and incorporate as much lightness and playfulness as possible. She makes work in response to that which is provocative, hilarious, stimulating, thrilling, and most importantly, fun for audiences to experience.

Previous work includes: Landfill of Memories, Solo Show & Podcast (2023), The Noisekeepers, Altru Drama (2022), and Emmerdale, ITV (2021).

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Photo by Michael Pollard

Olivia is a dedicated producer and support worker working across the UK with innovative artists and companies that centre inclusivity and wonder in the work they make. She is committed to making a change in the collaborative process between producer and artist and holding space to interrogate what best practice truly means in the creative sector. Olivia has worked with a wide range of companies including Mercury Theatre, WEAREBAP!, Strike a Light, KLS & Associates and presented work at venues and festivals including Lighthouse Pool, Royal & Derngate, The Hope Theatre, VAULT Festival and Edinburgh Fringe.

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Photo by Chelsey Cliff