Diverse City, London > promoting equal access to performance arts

Diverse City workshops are facilitated by artists, including dancers, actors, musicians, directors, choreographers, filmmakers, DJ’s, playwrights, photographers, circus artists and comedians who:

currently teach in higher and further education and who are committed to innovative student centred learning
have extensive international professional experience
work at the cutting edge of contemporary performance practice
are of diverse identities and backgrounds
are police checked have undertaken disability equality training and are experienced in working accessibly and inclusively
are involved in professional development and who evaluate each other's work

Diverse City Artists

Tracey Anderson	Christopher Holt	Dave Toole
David Annen	Dominic Hingorani
Sandie Armstrong	Jennifer Maidman
Jamie Beddard	Kareena Oates
Lee Ernimez	Arzhang Pezhman
Sarah Evans	Jim Pope
Ernst Fischer	Lucy Richardson
Dr G	Helen Spackmen
Tony Gardner	Chris Streeks
Érin Geraghty	teddave
Tom James Hodgson	Stephen Tiller

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Helen Spackman Helen Spackman is a mother, performance artist and senior lecturer on the BA Performing Arts and Theatre Studies courses at London Metropolitan University. She trained at the Desmond Jones School of Mime Physical Theatre and with the late Hilde Holger (Central European Expressionist Dance) and has an MA in Performance Arts from Middlesex University. She has performed at numerous fringe venues throughout London since 1987, frequently in collaboration with and directed by Ernst Fischer, with whom she has recently founded the artists' collective, Leibniz.

Christopher Holt Christopher Holt is an actor, theatre director, theatre skills lecturer, voice teacher and corporate training facilitator. As an actor he has appeared in numerous high - profile West End productions including Les Miserables, Cats and The Lion King and worked with directors such as Trevor Nunn and Sam Mendes. Christopher's theatre directing career has taken him to Italy and Germany, directing the German Première of the AIDS musical elegies for angels, punks and raging queens and reinventing classic texts for tours of Italy. In the UK Christopher has devised and directed productions for Jackson's Lane and Oval House and was one of the directors of Shakespeare in the Square - a site-specific festival created by the National Youth Theatre with young people in Hackney. As a lecturer, voice coach and workshop leader, Christopher has worked for institutions such as London Metropolitan University, the National Youth Theatre, Shared Experience and GRAEAE Theatre Company.

Ernst Fischer Ernst Fischer was born and brought up in Munich, Germany, where he was a member of the Freies Theater München for two years. After relocating to London in 1979 he obtained an Honours degree in Performing Arts; an MA in Drama and Theatre Studies; a diploma in Butler Administration and in 2003, a PhD from Roehampton University, where he is currently employed as a Creative Research Fellow. As both a gay man and a foreigner in this country, Ernst is particularly concerned with issues of belonging, domesticity and homeliness, and his work seeks to explore how we occupy as well as ‘uncannily’ disrupt a variety of spaces - from our own bodies to social conventions and political/ideological systems. Ernst’s performance work - generally categorised as ‘live art’ or ‘body art’ - has been heavily influenced by Butoh, which he studied in Japan, London and Vienna. Ernst has also collaborated with exiled writers and asylum seekers on issues relating to race, diversity and Human Rights.

Lucy Richardson Lucy Richardson is an actress, director and academic. She has worked extensively in theatre as an actress and director; most notably with Debbie Isitt and the Snarling Beasties Theatre Company, taking lead roles in many productions and acting as associate director on The Woman Who Cooked Her Husband (New Ambassadors, West End). Lucy is one of the founding members of Project Phakama, an International arts and cultural exchange programme supported by LIFT. She has directed several projects in Southern Africa and London and will launch Phakama in South America in April 2006. Lucy has also worked in India training actors. .Lucy was also *Artistic Director* of Lewisham Youth Theatre for ten years and founded Camden Young People’s Theatre. Lucy is currently a Senior Lecturer in Performing Arts, (Theatre) at London Metropolitan University where she has recently founded and launched The Facility, a Performance as Research Centre.

Sarah Evans Sarah Evans has worked in the media industry for over ten years and now specialises in video and photography. Having started her career in the fashion department of three national newspapers, Sarah soon became a stylist and fashion editor, creating visuals for international publications including The Face and I-D. She also designed looks for runway shows at London Fashion Week, numerous music videos, and advertising campaigns including Harrods, Topshop and Mulberry. Sarah also worked as a tutor at the Royal College of Art during this period. Since graduating with an MA in Image and Communication from Goldsmiths College , Sarah has worked as a filmmaker, writer and editor, specialising in fine art video and photography. Sarah currently lectures in photography and video production at London Metropolitan University , writes for online contemporary arts magazine Kultureflash, and occasionally works in TV.

Lee Erinmez For the last fifteen years Lee has worked as a professional musician and music producer. Lee has recorded for both major and independent record labels, has undertaken extensive international touring and has recently produced network radio shows for BBC Radio 1. Lee lectures in music technology and music business in higher and further education.

Tom James Hodgson After graduating from the Bird College of Performing Arts London, Tom began his career in the musical "Cats" before moving into contemporary dance. Tom has worked across Europe with various companies including : Kiel Ballet; Ballet Braunschweig; Richard Wherlock's Ballet Lucerne; Scapino Ballet Rotterdam; Dansity Amsterdam; Conny Janssen Danst; DV8 Physical Theatre and Ricochet Dance Productions. In 2002, Tom and Henrik Kaalund won 1 st prize at the International Competition for Young Choreographers in Hanover Germany for their piece "Two 2 Never". Tom has also worked extensively in Australia , performing with choreographer Sue Healey; Kate Champion's company Force Majeure and with Opera Australia in productions at the Sydney Opera House. Tom has appeared in films by Markus Fischer; Willem van de Bakhuyzen and Lloyd Newson and recently worked as assistant to choreographer Peter Darling on the new "Billy Elliot" musical.

Dominic Hingorani Dominic Hingorani is a director and lecturer. Originally trained as an actor at The Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama, Dominic has worked in theatre, radio, television and film. He is Associate Director of Conspirators' Kitchen Theatre Company which produces new work by British Asian writers and he most recently directed The Hot Zone by Nirjay Mahindru at The Lyric Theatre Studio. Dominic is also a freelance lecturer in contemporary drama theory and teaches at a number of London universities. His specialist area of research is British Asian theatre on which he has published a number of articles and he recently contributed a chapter to Alternatives Within The Mainstream: Black and Asian British Theatre , to be published in 2006. Dominic also has experience of teaching voice and communication skills to a range of professions including teachers, solicitors and industry.

Kareena Oates As a self proclaimed circus celebrity, Kareena takes dodging the paparazzi all in her stilettoed stride. In 1992, Kareena single-handedly kicked off the hula hoop craze still sweeping Australia. Originally trained by the Shanghai Acrobatic Troupe, Kareena has since worked with Rock 'n' Roll Circus, Club Swing, Circus Oz and England's world-renowned dance company D.V.8 Physical Theatre. In 2001 she performed on 42nd street in New York with Circus OZ. Entertainer to the stars, Kareena has wowed the likes of Tom Cruise, Robert de Niro, Nicole Kidman and Ricki Lake. She recently became a Guinness world record holder for hula hooping 100 hoops.

Arzhang Pezhman Arzhang Pezhman has written plays for the Royal Court theatre ( Local - 2000 and Come Around - 2003), Birmingham Rep Youth Theatre and Wolverhampton Grammar School . He is developing a feature length screenplay for Small Screen Visions and is attached to the BBC Radio 'Sparks' initiative, a process that aims to develop the skills necessary to write a radio drama. Arzhang has also collaborated with Marvel Comics and others in developing an online, flash animation series, Animatix (-www.animatix.morg) Arzhang is currently a writing tutor for the Birmingham Rep's Transmissions project and a visiting lecturer at London Metropolitan University.

Tracey Anderson Tracey originally trained at Rose Bruford College of Speech and Drama and toured extensively both nationally and internationally as a performer. With an MA in Theatre for Development, she now specialises in working with drama as a communication Tool, delivering workshops within many organisations including Connexions, The National Health Service and various housing associations. For the past seven years Tracey has also worked for The Metropolitan Police Service, training officers of all ranks on community race awareness. As a visiting lecturer in Performing Arts, she presently works at London Metropolitan and Winchester Universities and with Graeae and Clean Break theatre Companies.

David Annen David is an actor and teacher. Recent theatre includes: Guantanamo (Tricycle/New Ambassadors); After Mrs. Rochester (Shared Experience at the Duke of York's); Copenhagen (Watermill); The Winter's Tale (Royal, Bath ); Andorra and Demons & Dybbuks (Young Vic). David is an associate artist with the multi-media performance company, Lightwork. David has taught drama for adults and in schools and colleges for many clients including, NT Education, Emergency Exit Arts and the British Council. He has developed work with people with disabilities for companies including Graeae and Blast Films. David's band, Sucker , played the John Peel stage at the Glastonbury Festival in 2005.

Alex Bulmer Alex Bulmer has been working as a professional artist for fifteen years. Canadian born, she is founder and artistic director of SNIFF, one of Canada 's leading companies artistically led by disabled people. Alex has written for stage, radio and television and earned nominations of excellence for both playwriting and radio production. (Her play SMUDGE was selected as critic's choice by Time Out magazine). Alex has a strong interest in arts education and her teaching credits include The National Theatre School of Canada, Central School of Speech and Drama, London Metropolitan University, Clean Break, Graeae Theatre Company and numerous youth and community organisations in both Canada and the U.K.

Jamie Beddard Jamie Beddard is an actor and director. His TV and film credits include Skalligrigg, Quills, I.D., Carrie's War and The Egg and he has appeared in Ubu, Waiting for Godot, and Volpone on stage. Jamie is currently Associate Director at Graeae Theatre Company. He is particularly involved in the company's education and new writing Work - teaching on the Missing Piece training course, leading numerous workshops and writing / developing various forum projects.

Tony Gardner Tony Gardner studied at Middlesex University and has since worked as an actor and director both in the UK and abroad. In 1992 he co-founded Camden People's Theatre in London and became its first Artistic Director. Tony has worked with many diverse companies and practitioners including Welfare State International, John Wright, Philippe Gaulier and Eugenio Barba. Tony's interests include the performative aspects of political activism, clowning and ensemble performance. He is a member of the Theatre and Performance Research Association and is currently Senior Lecturer in Performing Arts and Course Leader in Theatre Studies at London Metropolitan University.

Dr G Dr G is the performance persona of performer/musician/writer Lesley Gannon. Lesley studied at East 15 Acting School, the University of Glamorgan and finally the University of Bristol, where she gained an MA in Feminist Performance. Committed to producing explicitly political, challenging yet accessible interdisciplinary work; over the past 15 years Lesley has performed at events and venues across the UK, from the Pink Purse in Manchester to Chapter Arts, Cardiff. Extracts from her 2001 piece Docushow recently appeared in Cynicism from Diogenes to Dilbert by Ian Cutler (McFarland & Co., 2005). Lesley is currently working collaboratively with Visual Artist/Performer Patti Plinko under the name Adventures in the Sin Trade. In addition to her performance work, Lesley has also pursued a career in education. Formerly a lecturer and curriculum manager, she now works in the Higher Education sector developing strategies and activities to encourage under-represented groups to consider applying to university.	pic forthcoming

Jim Pope Jim is an actor, director and teacher. He is a founder member of The Work Theatre Collective (thework.eu.com) winners of the Samuel Beckett Trust Award in 2006. He has directed long term community theatre projects with young people in London regeneration areas such as Tower Hamlets and South Kilburn. Recently he directed the multi-media play "Tagged to a Number" with prisoners at Latchmere House open prison, which toured London schools for three weeks. He is the Young Offenders Programme Manager for the National Youth Theatre and has run drama intervention projects in Feltham and Rochester young offender's institutes and Evelyn House unit for young women. He is currently running a drama project with young people involved in gangs in Wandsworth for the Battersea Arts Centre. Overseas, as a theatre practitioner he has worked in Darmstadt, Cologne, Paris and is currently working in Geneva for the Simply Theatre Academy (simplytheatre.com) He is about to embark upon directing a community site specific project with 100 young people which will result in a performance under ground in the Wrens Nest caves in Dudley.

Sandie Armstrong Sandie trained at Webber Douglas and started acting professionally in her thirties. She lived in San Francisco for five years where she appeared in the West Coast premiere of ‘Trainspotting’ (Scottish Culture and Arts Foundation), ‘Ecstasy’ (Speakeasy Theatre) and several new plays at the Magic Theatre and Berkeley Rep. In Britain her theatre credits include Dido in ‘Dido Queen of Carthage’, ‘Salome’, (both Dukes Head, Richmond) and Mary in a Scottish tour of ‘Mary Queen of Scots Got Her Head Chopped Off’ (Prime Productions). TV and film credits include ‘Taggart’ (ITV), BAFTA nominated ‘Vagabond Shoes’ (Ugly Duckling Films) and ‘A Small Deposit’ (Brassneck Films/BBC).

Érin Geraghty Erin’s career began in the dark ages as a child dancer in a film with Julie Andrews. Since then she has graced screens, large and small - including three years nursing in ‘Angels’ and as an old crone in ‘Knightmare’. She flirted with David Essex in ‘That'll be the Day’, was spray tanned in ‘Nighty Night’ and popped up in ‘Last of the Summer Wine’. On the stage Erin has appeared in numerous productions from Rep to Fringe to West End, in the UK, Australia and North America, where she was voted ‘Best Female Performer’ (Orlando International Theatre Festival 2000). Erin is also an experienced facilitator and trainer and has utilized her theatre skills in forum theatre workshops for various organisations. In her spare time Erin has raised five children including triplets. For the really keen: eringeraghty.com

Jennifer Maidman Jennifer is a singer, musician, writer and actress, who has worked with Joan Armatrading, Gerry Rafferty, David Sylvian, The Proclaimers, Shakespear’s Sister, Bonnie Raitt, Van Morisson, Ian Dury, Boy George and Robert Wyatt. Production credits include Paul Brady, Murray Head and Linda McCartney and soundtracks for ‘Bass Desires’ and ‘All the Little Animals’ with John Hurt. Jennifer was a longstanding member of the Penguin Cafe Orchestra where she met her partner, Annie Whitehead. They have recorded several albums together. Jennifer shares lead vocals with Sarah Jane Morris in the band ‘Soupsongs’ and is currently recording her own compositions for future release.

Chris Streeks Chris trained at BADA. Theatre credits include: Ash in ‘Basic’ (Hackney Empire), ‘Trash’ (Arcola + Teatro Ambra Jovinelli Rome), ‘Bach and Mozart Project’ (Warwick Arts Centre + tour), ‘Julius Caesar’ (Barbican), ‘Clouds’ (UK tour), Lucius in ‘Voices’ (Royal Opera House), John in ‘The Penalty Area’ (Lillian Baylis Theatre), Milton (lead) in ‘Sweetheart Music’ (Magic Eye Theatre). Film and Television credits include ‘Badmos’ (lead), ‘Scarred’ (Moss Pictures), ‘Proud to be an Indian’ (Bollywood feature), Alan Grainger in ‘Watch Over Me’ (BBC), Disaster in Da Block (Dablock.tv). Chris is also an improviser for Mixt Nuts (The Comedy Pub West-End / Gilded Balloon Edinburgh / Tour). When not acting, Chris teaches drama to young people at risk of exclusion and has recently published a book aimed at excluded youth entitled ‘Letters to a Young Person’.

Dave Toole After much soul-searching, Dave decided to bring an end to his glamorous nine-year stint in the Leeds Post Office to pursue a career in the arts. After training at the Laban Centre, Dave began touring both nationally and internationally as a dancer with companies such as DV8 and CandoCo to much acclaim. In recent years Dave has decided to slow things down a little and become an actor and has subsequently appeared in theatre including ‘The Fall of the House of Usher’ (Graeae), Sarah Kane’s ‘Blasted’ in the West End and most recently as a member of the Royal Shakespeare Company in ‘I’ll Be The Devil’ at The Tricycle. His film credits include ‘The Tango Lesson’ (Sally Potter) and ‘Amazing Grace’ (Michael Apted) and he appeared in the HBO TV series ‘Rome’.

Stephen Tiller Stephen is a freelance theatre skills teacher and director who has worked with students at Degree and Masters level for over 15 years at institutions including: Rose Bruford, De Montfort University, LAPA, Goldsmiths, Central school of Speech and Drama, London School of Ballet, Reading University, Arts Ed, Italia Conti, Middlesex University, Setagaya Theatre Tokyo, London Metropolitan University, Kunst Universitaet Graz, De Montfort University and the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art. Stephen has also run numerous workshops for those not intending to become traditional theatre performers, including with teachers and educators for the National Theatre Education Department; with homeless people for Cardboard Citizens; with student architects at Cambridge University, The Bartlett and the Architectural Association; with refugees in Bosnia and Serbia, detainees in the UK and with the displaced and homeless in Palestine and Lebanon. Stephen also works as a theatre professional and trained as an actor at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art. He produced The Vagina Monologues in the UK and is the artistic director of The Wedding Collective, a site-specific new writing company of young and exciting performers that engages with subjects around war, women and migration. The company has, over the last four years, been regularly ACE funded for large UK tours and projects, and the work has been performed in Greece, France, the Balkans and the US.

teddave Photographer, web designer and writer please visit teddave's creative website here, his web design CV here. His Photography is hosted over at flickr here.