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Team

"We pride ourselves on the talent, expertise, passion & values of our diverse team. Support, creativity, inclusion & trust are all of equal importance."

For more information about our workshop programme

Meet Our Team

Odd Arts prides itself on a team that has shared values and an openness to learn from one another and everyone we work with. Every team member is bursting with creative talent, from script writing to acting, directing to film-making, performing to visual arts.

We all have a passion for theatre that makes a difference to the world around us.

  • Barney
    Barney
    Theatre Practitioner
  • Curtis
    Curtis
    Theatre Practitioner & Associate Writer
  • Jess
    Jess
    Senior Project Manager: Education
  • Rebecca
    Rebecca
    CEO
  • Chad
    Chad
    Head Of Operations
  • Emily
    Emily
    Senior Project Manager: Resettlement
  • Jo
    Jo
    Senior Project Manager: Cohesion & Equality
  • Sola
    Sola
    Lead Practitioner
  • Char
    Char
    Head of Finance
  • Jade
    Jade
    Creative Practitioner
  • Leila
    Leila
    Lead Practitioner
  • Yasmin
    Yasmin
    Bookings Coordinator
  • Charley
    Charley
    Lead Practitioner
  • Jai
    Jai
    Theatre Practitioner
  • Pay
    Pay
    Creative Practitioner

Odd Arts Patrons & Board Members

Odd Arts is a CIO governed by a Board of Trustees who offer vast expertise, insight, commitment and support to Odd Arts. Their skill-sets and experience come from different sectors including: Criminal justice; education; psychology; charity; fundraising; marketing/PR.

If you believe you have the skills and values to become a future Trustee please email info@oddarts.co.uk.

  • Aleena Ali
    Aleena Ali
    Trustee
  • Emma Sheldon MBE
    Emma Sheldon MBE
    Chair of Trustees
  • Kyle Walker
    Kyle Walker
    Patron
  • Paula Cockcroft
    Paula Cockcroft
    Trustee
  • Amber Calland
    Amber Calland
    Trustee
  • Haiesha Mistry
    Haiesha Mistry
    Patron
  • Lamin Touray
    Lamin Touray
    Patron
  • Rob Potts
    Rob Potts
    Trustee
  • Annie Phiri
    Annie Phiri
    Trustee
  • Jim Parris
    Jim Parris
    Trustee
  • Maura Tomlinson
    Maura Tomlinson
    Trustee
  • Ryan Clayton
    Ryan Clayton
    Patron
  • Benedict Cumberbatch
    Benedict Cumberbatch
    Patron
  • Katie Swift
    Katie Swift
    Trustee
  • Owen Napier
    Owen Napier
    Trustee
  • Suchema Oyetey
    Suchema Oyetey
    Trustee

Acting Team

We have a core team of freelance actors who perform in a number of our plays and both highly skilled & trained performers, but also adept in the Odd Arts approaches.

They share our passion for the arts and social justice, and the power of theatre to overcome inequalities.

  • Fizah
    Fizah
    Actor
  • Keaton
    Keaton
    Actor
  • Lucie
    Lucie
    Actor
  • Paddy
    Paddy
    Actor
  • Tilly
    Tilly
    Actor
  • Grace
    Grace
    Actor
  • Lamin
    Lamin
    Actor
  • Madeleine
    Madeleine
    Actor
  • Sara
    Sara
    Actor
  • Tim
    Tim
    Actor
  • Hannah
    Hannah
    Actor
  • Lekhani
    Lekhani
    Actor
  • Morgan
    Morgan
    Actor
  • Shaban
    Shaban
    Actor
  • Tommy
    Tommy
    Actor
  • Jess
    Jess
    Actor
  • Levi
    Levi
    Actor
  • Nadia
    Nadia
    Actor
  • Skäi
    Skäi
    Actor

Freelance Facilitators

We have a core team of freelance facilitators who produce, run and manage our plays and are all highly skilled & trained performers, but also adept in the Odd Arts approaches.

They share our passion for the arts and social justice, and the power of theatre to overcome inequalities.

  • Beth
    Beth
    Facilitator
  • Meg
    Meg
    Senior Project Manager: Resettlement, Wellbeing & Consent
  • Split the Atom
    Split the Atom
    Film Maker
  • Courtney
    Courtney
    Film Maker
  • Nathan
    Nathan
    Facilitator
  • Stephanie
    Stephanie
    Facilitator
  • Julia
    Julia
    Facilitator
  • Ria
    Ria
    Facilitator
  • Tom
    Tom
    Facilitator
  • Luke
    Luke
    Facilitator
  • Rosalyne
    Rosalyne
    Facilitator

Empower people to change their lives

Odd Arts is working tirelessly to address the challenges of a society facing increasing division, violence & isolation.

Odd Arts gives people the skills, hope, voice & confidence to make positive change to their own lives.

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Odd Arts Funders & Memberships
Barney
Theatre Practitioner

Barney is an actor, director and creative mind. He studied Acting at Manchester School of Theatre (MMU) and since graduating has worked predominantly in theatre, He is a strong believer in the power of expression and its ability to empower people and improve lives. He enjoys watching the sunset, pineapple on pizza and his beloved Manchester United!

Curtis
Theatre Practitioner & Associate Writer

Curtis is an actor, writer and director based in Manchester. With over 12 years industry experience Curtis now uses his skills to tell the stories of and represent the disenfranchised in our society, working with various theatre companies, film-makers and, of course, Odd Arts.

Jess
Senior Project Manager: Education

Jess studied acting at UCLAN and always enjoyed facilitating drama in community settings and schools alongside her studies. Since graduating she has performed and facilitated performing arts throughout the UK. Jess loves adapting to different settings with people from age 4 all the way up to adulthood!

Rebecca
CEO

Rebecca co founded Odd Arts whilst still at The University of Manchester studying Drama after being inspired by her work and training with the ‘legend’ Augusto Boal in Brazil. Rebecca has a keen interest in using interactive and participant lead theatre performances to tackle radicalisation, youth violence and aggressive behaviour.

Chad
Head Of Operations
Emily
Senior Project Manager: Resettlement

Emily is a creative facilitator and performer. After studying Drama at The University of Manchester she went on to lead theatre projects with various community groups across the UK. Emily is a passionate about delivering workshops to those who may have had little exposure to drama and the arts.

Jo
Senior Project Manager: Cohesion & Equality

Jo is a an Artist/Photographer and Writer/Director of short films, who loves all forms of storytelling, creative activism … and acrobatics. Jo has over 20 years experience of youth work and arts facilitation and has a passion for using the arts to make change.

Sola
Lead Practitioner
Char
Head of Finance

Char has a wide variety of office admin and marketing experience and joined Odd in Jan 2018. With a passion for social media Char enjoys keeping our audiences updated on current projects when she is not dealing with very important budgeting spreadsheets! Char also runs her own crochet blanket business on the side.

Jade
Creative Practitioner

Jade works on the Creative Community Resettlement programme, she is also an actor and facilitator within Odd Arts. Having studied Drama at The University of Manchester Jade has since toured Italy as an actor in Theatre In Education and spent years working with the community through a grass roots equestrian social enterprise (yes, that means horses)! Jade loves to work with anyone and everyone, she has a passion for making people feel part of a wider drama family and has a particular interest in facilitating script writing.

Leila
Lead Practitioner

Leila is also Odd Arts’ Volunteer Coordinator. Leila is a performer, facilitator, writer and theatre-maker, originally from Brighton. After studying European Theatre Arts at Rose Bruford, she went on to create the blog Fleiling Through Life and set up her own theatre company, Soup-Stained Arts. Leila is passionate about squashing gender inequality, tackling climate change and jam doughnuts.

Yasmin
Bookings Coordinator

Yasmin has over 17 years experience in organising and managing a wide variety of bookings and events within the arts and culture setting. Yasmin joined Odd Arts in December 2020 and the Odd Values are something that Yasmin really believes in and has taken to heart. Aside from this, Yasmin loves all things cat, and at one point had 7 furry feline friends!

Charley
Lead Practitioner

Charley is a lead facilitator and creative practitioner at Odd Arts. In 2016 Charley graduated from the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama with a MA In Applied Theatre in the criminal justice system. Charley is passionate about enabling people to express themselves through a creative outlet allowing them to explore ideas in ways they may not have felt comfortable before. Charley strongly believes in the positive impact theatre can have on people’s well-being, whilst increasing morale and enabling people to learn and grow whilst building cohesive and safer communities.

Jai
Theatre Practitioner

Jai has worked with young people for over 19 years. He trained as an actor at Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts after 3 years at Lambeth College. Most of his experience has been with excluded groups and children from disadvantaged areas and backgrounds. Jai is a big supporter of the idea of using arts and the offspring of their tools, in all it’s forms, as a gift for all to enjoy. Originally from Brixton south London, Jai has a vested interest using music and poetry in the spoken form to inspire a positive resolution.

Pay
Creative Practitioner

Pay is a Creative/Drama Practitioner, Actor, Director and Artist who’s love and passion for Blacktivism, people and community drive her to utilise the arts as a tool for change. As a proud Drama graduate from the University of Manchester she utilises the higher education she was privileged to receive to help those less privileged. Her passion is empowering other minority groups, using the arts as a tool to unite, provoke and rouse change. Pay is also obsessed with Friends.

Aleena Ali
Trustee
Emma Sheldon MBE
Chair of Trustees
Kyle Walker
Patron
Paula Cockcroft
Trustee
Amber Calland
Trustee
Haiesha Mistry
Patron
Lamin Touray
Patron
Rob Potts
Trustee
Annie Phiri
Trustee
Jim Parris
Trustee
Maura Tomlinson
Trustee
Ryan Clayton
Patron
Benedict Cumberbatch
Patron
Katie Swift
Trustee
Owen Napier
Trustee
Suchema Oyetey
Trustee
Fizah
Actor
Keaton
Actor
Lucie
Actor
Paddy
Actor
Tilly
Actor
Grace
Actor
Lamin
Actor
Madeleine
Actor
Sara
Actor
Tim
Actor
Hannah
Actor
Lekhani
Actor
Morgan
Actor
Shaban
Actor
Tommy
Actor
Jess
Actor
Levi
Actor
Nadia
Actor
Skäi
Actor
Beth
Facilitator
Meg
Senior Project Manager: Resettlement, Wellbeing & Consent

Meg studied Contemporary Performance and Theatre at MMU and it was here that she discovered the transformative power of Boal’s Forum theatre. Meg has spent years performing, directing and facilitating with groups all over the world, but nowhere is quite like Manchester. She loves to find the comedy in every situation, even the more difficult, studying clown with Gaulier and comedy improv with the Maydays. Fascinated by people and how they choose to relate, Meg is also a relationship coach, using Marshall Rosenberg’s methods, a touch of theatre and a whole heap of playfulness.

Split the Atom
Film Maker
Courtney
Film Maker

Courtney is a film enthusiast who has been making short films since 2005. After completing a degree in theatre studies and performing arts, Courtney turned his attention from the stage to the screen. He is passionate about sharing his skills with young people and creating pieces that challenge and inspire the local community.

Nathan
Facilitator
Stephanie
Facilitator

Stephanie is the Office Administrator at Odd Arts. Stephanie has a background in theatre and is a freelance playwright. Stephanie is passionate about social change and often volunteers for Care 4 Calais and FoodCycle, and is a member of the Socialist Workers Party. Stephanie loves all forms of storytelling and community work and often combines the two.

Julia
Facilitator
Ria
Facilitator
Tom
Facilitator
Luke
Facilitator
Rosalyne
Facilitator

Rosalyne is a creative practitioner that specialises in taking theatre and creative arts to marginalised communities. Ros studied Acting and Community Theatre at East 15 Acting School and is passionate about ensuring that people have the opportunity to engage in high quality art regardless of their backgrounds and abilities.