I’m a writer and director for theatre and film. My stories amplify the extraordinary real experiences of ordinary people, representing them and giving them visibility. 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.
Since 2010 I am Artistic Director at Odd Eyes Theatre. I have written and directed the majority of the company’s productions, for screen and stage. 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 Donizetti in Bologna, to fire-eating shows in public squares and burlesque performances at cabarets and festivals, including Glastonbury.
It wasn’t all glamour and glitter. In the late 90s, my luck was down. After the buzz of winning the European literary prizes for two consecutive years, I ended up in a very abusive relationship, survived but found myself homeless and coping with the aftermaths in very self-destructive ways. During this (un)fortunate spell, I got to know Cardboard Citizens and my luck begun to change again. I trained with Augusto Boal, activist, torture survivor and 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 bringing 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, 900 Feet Up, and my previous short, On The Line, are currently on the festival circuit. On The Line has earned me an award for Best Director award and Jury Choice award at The White Rose Film Festival as well as Best Edited Film award from the London Women Film Festival. It was nominated for Best Short at the UK Festival Awards and the UK Cinematography Award.
“The film’s tone dances between light-hearted comedy and underlying drama, thanks to strong writing and direction. ‘On The Line’ stands out as a bold, engaging exploration of the complexities of youth, loyalty, and class. Unmissable.” Short Films Matter 
The stage version of 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.
“Stunning, was just stunning. What Emilia’s done to this production is sort of ground level, in the sense that she’s taken us completely to Shaw and his critique about being ‘other’.” Bonnie Greer
My play #Haters toured twice in 2015 and 2017 before I adapted it for screen (Honourable Mention, The White Rose International Film Festival 2025 & Runner Up Best Actor, London Lift-Off Film Festival 2019) . 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 third short, 900 Feet Up, is in preproduction. My second short, On The Line, is on the festival circuit and, together with my first short, #Haters is screening in art venues and schools with a programme of Creative Debate workshops produced by Odd Eyes Theatre 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.
