I work as theatre director, playwright and film maker. Since 2010 I am Artistic Director at Odd Eyes Theatre. I have written and directed the majority of the company’s productions. My practice focuses on the dynamics of communication across cultures and on amplifying the extraordinary life-stories of ordinary people. I’m an advocate for diversity as a philosophy of life: my mission is to enable the circulation of ideas through creative communication between individuals from every socioeconomic background, country and walk of life.
After training in Stanislavski-based acting techniques in Italy and London, I travelled Europe working in theatres of all scales and scopes and roles. From the wardrobe department of Teatro dell’ Opera Donizzetti in Bologna, to fire-eating shows in public squares and burlesque performances at cabarets and festivals, including Glastonbury.
In 1999, due to an (un)fortunate spell of homelessness in London, I got to know Cardboard Citizens and was lucky enough to train with Augusto Boal, founder of Theatre of the Oppressed. It was the beginning of a new journey as a story teller and change maker.
In 2022 I was nominated in the Top 100 changemakers for briging a positive contribution to a better society through the arts. In this interview with The Big Issue I reflect on my journey from selling the magazine outside Old Street tube station to founding Odd Eyes Theatre.
WRITING AND DIRECTING
My latest short film, On The Line, which I wrote, directed and edited, is in its final stages of post-production. On the Line first opened at Camden People’s Theatre in 2022 and toured until February 2023. I wrote this coming of age comedy/drama with a group of young people from Camden, using Creative Debate , the techniques I developed through my experience with the participatory theatre of Augusto Boal. In 2022 I also directed Nine Night by Natasha Gordon, an autobiographical play about Gordon’s British-Jamaican background. In 2019 I wrote White Other, a surrealist play inspired by Pygmalion, by G.B. Shaw, after directing the classic masterpiece in June of the same year. The production was one big tick off my bucket list as it was an old dream of mine to direct this evergreen masterpiece. My play #Haters toured twice in 2015 and 2017 before I adapted it for screen. In 2017 I also wrote Close Up, a play about a raunchy 92-year-old ex-showgirl and a young woman aspiring TV director, written in response to the #metoo scandals, performed at the Pleasance Theatre and at New Diorama Theatre. For Odd Eyes Theatre I also devised and directed over 15 plays including Forum Theatre plays and 70 minute long plays Location, Location, recipient of the Unlimited Big Local Award 2013, and How Can I Help?
My freelance directorial work includes Cooking with Elvis by Lee Hall at Theatro Technis, Content, by Hannah Puddefoot, at Theatre503. I collaborated with Cardboard Citizens as assistant director to Adrian Jackson on Cathy and with Vital Xposure as Assistant Director and dramaturg on Hold the Hearse! by Julie McNamara alongside Terry Galloway.
FILM – SHORTS, DOCUMENTARIES, MUSIC VIDEOS
My film work spans from short films to music videos to unscripted documentaries. My second short On The Line, is due to be released early in 2025. My first short, #Haters has been screening in art venues and schools since 2018. I worked with young people to develop unscripted documentary projects based on their experiences. Some of these include collaborations with ELATT, BT Sport and Circle Collective. You can see here Connected and Community Action in Action. For some of my work with migrants, watch Conversation Club. I enjoy editing and I’ve loved the challenge of editing a long zoom-filmed project by Hackney Shed, Find a Partner, as part of National Youth Theatre Festival 2021. I also directed the music videos for ‘Una Saeva Walk Side by Side, filmed during the Xtinction Rebellion protests of 2019, and Come Alive in 2021.
TEACHING
Teaching is my other passion. I am invited Lecturer at Goldsmiths College and at London Metropolitan University where I teach Dramaturgy, Playwriting and Theatre of the Oppressed techniques. As a freelance director, I worked at the Roundhouse, Hoxton Hall, Midkent College, Cardboard Citizens, Tyatro Barbone and secondary schools, colleges and universities in UK, Italy and Turkey.
TRAINING
Before moving to London, I trained as an actor in Italy with Beatrice Bracco (Teatro Blu), Lucia Panaro (Accademia Silvio D’Amico), Tenerezza Fattore (Cassiopea Teatro). In the UK I trained with Augusto Boal and Adrian Jackson in Theatre of the Oppressed methodologies including Forum Theatre and Rainbow of Desire techniques.
I hold a Theatre Studies BA Hons degree and a Master in Cultural History (achieved with Distinction) with a dissertation on the history of Forum Theatre in UK.