Ronkẹ Adékọluẹ́jọ́
Theatre includes: Blues for an Alabama Sky; Three Sisters (National Theatre); Lava (Bush Theatre); Cyprus Avenue (Royal Court/Abbey Theatre Dublin/Public Theatre New York); Bad Roads (Royal Court); The Mountain Top (Young Vic); Twelfth Night (Filter Theatre); The Oresteia (Home); Pride and Prejudice (Sheffield Crucible); The House That Will Not Stand; The Colby Sisters of Pittsburgh; Pennsylvania (Tricycle Theatre); Anon (Welsh National Opera) and Random (Crooked Path).
Television includes: Rain Dogs; Alex Rider; Big Age; Soul Mates; Black Earth Rising; Cuckoo; Cold Feet; Dr Who; Josh; NW; Sick Note; Chewing Gum and Suspects.
Feature film includes: Chevalier; Ear For Eye; The Big Other; Been So Long; Christopher Robin; Ready Player One and One Crazy Thing.
Awards includes: Nominated for Best Actress at the 2022 Evening Standard Theatre awards (Blues for an Alabama Sky, National Theatre); Winner of Best Performance Piece at The Offies and nominated for Best Female Actor in a Play at the Black British Theatre Awards (Lava, Bush Theatre); Winner of the third prize at The Ian Charleson Awards and Best Female Actor in a Play at the Black British Theatre Awards (Three Sisters, National Theatre).
Dr Michael Anderson
Dr Michael Anderson is Professor of Creativity and Arts Education in the Sydney School of Education and Social Work at The University of Sydney and Co-Director of the CREATE Centre. He is an internationally recognised educational leader in school transformation processes. He has taught, researched and published in education and transformation for over 20 years, including 17 books and 55 book chapters and journal articles. His international research and practice focus on how the 4Cs can be integrated using coherent frameworks to support leaders as they work towards transformation in their contexts. Michael's most recent work emerging from his research and partnerships with schools include Transforming Education (with Miranda Jefferson, Bloomsbury, 2021) and Transforming Schools (2017).
Dr Michael Anderson is involved in: Keynote Address, Keynote Address Panel Talk
Dr Sylvan Baker
Dr Sylvan Baker is a care experienced, academic, practitioner and researcher who has been working across the fields of Applied Theatre and arts in social justice for over 30 years. He is a Senior Lecturer in Community Performance and Applied Theatre at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, University of London. He has worked in a diverse range of communities and contexts from favelas to hospitals, and has a specific interest in participatory collaboration, transitional justice and interventions in sites of conflict. His current research projects work with young researchers with experience of the UK care system, and separately with neurodivergent young people to develop resources to support positive adolescent mental health.
Dr Sylvan Baker is involved in: Opening Address Panel Talk
Mikey Bharj
Mikey Bharj is an actor/screenwriter/director/editor/musician and award-winning stand-up comedian from London, United Kingdom.
In 2017, Mikey co-wrote TV-Show Pranksterz for ITV2, which focused on creative hidden camera pranks designed to test the general public on social issues. In 2018, Mikey joined as a scriptwriter for BBC on the animated Sitcom Sticky, created by Fonejacker creator Ed Tracey and starring Tom Hardy, Kavan Novak and Javone Prince.
In 2019, Mikey played the role of Ice Medic in Terminator: Dark Fate opposite Mackenzie Davis (Black Mirror), directed by Tim Miller (Love, Death and Robots/ Deadpool). Mikey has been dedicated to working with many communities, and in 2019, he was awarded The Jack Petchy Award for “Outstanding Work with Young People”.
Since 2020, Mikey teaches a popular Online Drama Workshop every Sunday on Eventbrite in association with The Greater London Youth Foundation, a registered charity, as well as providing Screen Writing and Video Editing tutorials, in association with Soapbox Islington Youth Centre, a digital learning centre for young people. Currently, since January 2021, Mikey produces a podcast streamed across all platforms entitled The Mikey Bharj Show in association with The Greater London Youth Foundation, interviewing fascinating influential people who inspire young people to do great things.
Mikey Bharj is involved in: An Artist in the Classroom - Tuesday
Nicola T. Chang
Nicola T. Chang is an award-winning composer/sound designer for stage and screen. She was the Composer/Sound Designer on the 2020/21 Old Vic 12 cohort and a current BAFTA Connect Member (Film Composer). She was a co-winner of the Evening Standard Future Theatre Fund (Audio Design) in 2021, and has received four Off West-End Award nominations in Sound Design.
As a performer, she plays Keys 2/Percussion in Fantastically Great Women Who Changed the World (UK Tour), and has previously appeared in Six the Musical (West End) as deputy MD/Keys 1 and in STOMP! (West End/World Tour) as a cast-member.
Selected theatre credits include: For Black Boys Who Have Considered Suicide When the Hue Gets Too Heavy (Apollo Theatre/Royal Court/New Diorama), My Neighbour Totoro (RSC/Barbican), Kerry Jackson (National Theatre), Of the Cut (Young Vic), The Ministry of Lesbian Affairs (Soho Theatre), The Swell (Orange Tree Theatre), Macbeth (Leeds Playhouse), All Mirth and No Matter (RSC), White Pearl (Royal Court), Dziady/Forefather’s Eve (Almeida Theatre), NEST (LEEDS 2023/NYT), Little Baby Jesus (Orange Tree Theatre) and The Death of Ophelia (Shakespeare’s Globe).
Nicola T. Chang is involved in: The Power of Sound
Bruno Correia
Bruno is an actor, musician and facilitator. He has been featured in TV commercials including Tesco's Christmas advert, 2020 and Sky One’s television series Delicious alongside Dawn French, Emilia Fox and Iain Glen. Bruno is the leading artist and project director for all of Pan Intercultural Arts Weapon of Choice’s (WOC) work in alternative provision.
He is an experienced practitioner with a passion for making sure young people are heard. He’s deeply committed to working with young people that have been excluded from mainstream education. Bruno has led artistic residencies in Pupil Referral Units for over 5 years. He was at the forefront of Pan’s first venture into school residencies and has delivered projects in Haverstock School, Hampstead School, Acland Burghley, Saint Gabriel’s College and several workshops in The UCL Academy, Highbury Grove School, Sacred Heart School and City Heights to name a few. Bruno never gives up on young people and believes that they all have potential to be successful leaders. He combines youth work values, artistic excellence and a belief in all young people in his practice.
He has experience training young people to facilitate groups and believes in giving meaningful responsibility and experience to young leaders.
Bruno Correia is involved in: An Artist in the Classroom - Tuesday
Emma Dennis-Edwards
Emma Dennis-Edwards is a Writer/Performer of Jamaican and Trinidadian heritage. For stage, Emma has been a participant at Royal Court, Soho Theatre, Lyric Hammersmith, and Oval House writers’ programmes. Plays include Funeral Flowers which was performed at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival 2018 and won the Scotsman’s Fringe First Award and the Filipa Bragança award for best female solo performance. It went on to tour venues across London. Her play Bricks was developed on the Old Vic 12 scheme and was shortlisted for the Alfred Fagan Award.
For TV, Emma’s first original Single Drama Consent is currently on Channel 4 On Demand; it premiered to excellent reviews. Emma also wrote the script for a BBC Docudrama Our Lost Caribbean Voice: Una Marson about the late trailblazing poet, playwright and campaigner who was the first black producer and broadcaster at the BBC. She also co-wrote Episode 5 Champion (Candice Carty-Williams' new show for BBC). Upcoming projects include an Episode of new BBC3 comedy drama BOARDERS.
She was part of the BBC Writers Academy with John Yorke and has written episodes of Casualty, EastEnders, and Holby City.
Emma Dennis-Edwards is involved in: Imagination in the Classroom
QianEr Jin
QianEr Jin is a London based performance designer working with a keen interest in immersive storytelling, musical, and ballet. Graduated from the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama in Design for Stage, then got taken under the wings of Project 2036 by the Bush Theatre. Theatre credits includes Modest (MiddleChild and Milk Presents), I wonder if… (Young Vic), YV25 Thrive (Young Vic), Unchain Me (DreamThinkSpeak).
QianEr Jin is the design consultant for the INNOVATE: Legacy & Learning Symposium.
Sheryl Malcolm
Sheryl has over 20 years experience of delivering and coordinating a variety of education and arts projects within statutory, community and voluntary settings across London. She has worked as a Participation Manager, Freelance Theatre Director and Facilitator. Sheryl thrives on working in collaboration with stakeholders to ensure that the creative process is effectively delivered and participants can wholly engage, enjoy and transform.
Sheryl has successfully worked with diverse communities; delivering projects within schools and arts organisations - National Theatre Education and Roundhouse Studios. She is currently a Visiting Lecturer at Royal Central School of Speech and Drama and University of East London. Sheryl is a Trustee of Little Fish Theatre Company.
Sheryl Malcolm is involved in: Teaching through Cooking
Lorna McGinty
Lorna is an applied arts practitioner and producer specialising in theatre and dance. She has extensive experience in creating, delivering and managing projects designed to facilitate democratic access to arts practice, and employ creativity as a pedagogic tool. Lorna is currently the Head of Learning & Participation at Hackney Empire. Previously, she was in the role of Participation Producer at the Young Vic, where she joined in March 2020 from the National Theatre.
Lorna McGinty is involved in: Opening Address Panel Talk
Philip J Morris
Philip J Morris is a London-born theatre director and practitioner raised in borough of Croydon. He has directed plays regionally and internationally, working with professional actors, students, community groups and young people.
Theatre directing includes: Romeo & Juliet, First Encounters (Royal Shakespeare Company); What I Hear I Keep; TYPT Programme, (Talawa); Manorism, An adaptation by Yomi Ṣode (Southbank Centre); Bitches (Residenz Theatre, Munich); Of The Cut (Young Vic); Clutch (Bush Theatre); Sessions (Paines Plough & Soho Theatre); 18, Company Three (New Diorama Theatre) Neighbourhood Voices Monologue Showcase (Young Vic Theatre).
Film Directing Includes: Recovery In Vision Short Films (Tea Films & Outside Edge); Living Newspaper Editions 4 & 7 (Royal Court Theatre)
Audio Play credits include: The Holding ‘GNR8’ -Bad Seed (LAMDA & Audible Original)
Philip received training at the Young Vic's, Introduction to Directing Course, Regional Theatre Young Directors' Scheme RTYDS and became a Project Associate at the National Theatre for Public Acts. He is the Artistic Director of Trybe House Theatre following a period as Trainee Director at the Royal Court Theatre.
Philip J Morris is involved in: Multidisciplinary Practice and Collaboration
TD. Moyo
TD. Moyo is a director, writer, acting coach and South London activist with a Masters in Contemporary Performance Practice from the University of Kent. She believes in theatre's capacity to elicit genuine change and social reform and is the Artistic director of Mwarsha Featre, a community-based theatre company for emerging work and social engagement. Most recently, she has worked on new work at the National theatre and the Royal Opera house.
As director, theatre and opera includes: Chicken Burger and Chips (Brixton House), Karmen (Opera Holland Park) Love & Money (LAMDA), Mami Wata (Royal Opera House) Kind Regards (Royal Opera House [virtual]), Caste-ing (Noveau Riche/Barbican), Dark & Lovely (Rose, Kingston); 32 Peak St. (Tristan Bates); Fifty Years (Theatre Royal, Stratford East); Mind Body & Soul (Bussey Building); Dolla (Aphra Studio, University of Kent).
As writer & director, theatre includes: Don’t Kill Kola (Lyric, Hammersmith), FEELS (Lyric, Hammersmith); Jungle (Courtyard); Scene (UK tour).
As Associate/Resident/Assistant director, theatre includes: The Doctor (Duke of York/International tour(s)/Almeida), Blues for an Alabama Sky (National), Mad House (Ambassador theatre), MUM (Soho & Theatre Royal Plymouth), AFTERLIFE (National), The Knife of Dawn (Royal Opera House), Beyond the Cannon (RADA), The Doctor (Adelaide Festival, AU) Scenes with girls (Royal Court), The Diary of Anne Frank (Headlong).
TD. Moyo is involved in: Speakeasy
Professor Helen Nicholson
Professor Helen Nicholson is Professor of Theatre and Performance at Royal Holloway, University of London, specialising in theatre in community and educational settings. Helen has published widely on different aspects of theatre and performance, and was research lead for INNOVATE and enjoys long-standing collaborations with the Young Vic and other theatres across England.
Professor Helen Nicholson is involved in: Keynote Address, Keynote Address Panel Talk
Kelechi Okafor
Kelechi Okafor is a Nigerian-born London-based lover of words - whether that’s crafting them into works of fiction or articles; performing them on stage or television; directing how others convey them on stage; or expressing herself and her thoughts on society one podcast episode at a time – with esteemed interview guests too. Known online as Kelechnekoff, she’s also affectionately known as “just a Baby Girl” by her followers, listeners, and community.
Through short videos on social media, she commentates and unpicks globally relevant issues as well as highlighting what is next, bringing these seemingly academic conversations to people who have been locked out of public discourse previously. These videos garner millions of views across the world, and are a short glimpse into her intellect and broadcast skills, expanded further on in her Award-winning podcast Say Your Mind.
Kelechi released her highly anticipated literary debut “Edge of Here” in 2023. This collection of short stories is staged in a speculative world rooted in constantly innovating technology to “improve” society. Throughout the collection, Kelechi uses her genetically and divinely inherited storytelling skill to query and show how Black women navigate a society like this on interpersonal, professional, spiritual, and communal levels.
Kelechi Okafor is involved in: Playing in Class
Stef O'Driscoll
Stef is a critically acclaimed and award-winning theatre director. Accolades include With a Little Bit of Luck by Sabrina Mahfouz being the first radio play to be broadcast on BBC 1Xtra winning Best Radio production at the BBC Radio and Music Awards 2019.
Stef was previously the Interim Artistic Director at The Gate, the Artistic Director of nabokov, Associate Director at Paines Plough, Associate Director at Lyric Hammersmith and Resident Artist at the Tobacco Factory.
Stef centers contemporary stories with a social political heart and has extensive experience directing new writing with some of the UK’s exceptional writers including Nathan Bryon, Vickie Donoghue, Sophie Ellerby, Shereen Jasmin-Phillips, Daf James, Yasmin Joseph, Simon Longman, Nessah Muthy and Vinay Patel. She has worked in a multitude of theatres including: Donmar Warehouse, Young Vic, Roundhouse, Royal Court, Lyric Hammersmith, Nottingham Playhouse and St. Ann’s Warehouse (Brooklyn New York).
Directing credits include: Brassic Fm (Gate Theatre), The Flood (Queens Theatre Hornchurch), How To Save The Planet When You’re a Young Carer and Broke (Boundless Theatre), Love Reign (Young Vic), Herstory (Brighton Festival/Lighthouse/Arch 468), A History of Water in the Middle East (Royal Court Theatre), Inside This Box (Clean Break); Lit (Nottingham Playhouse/Hightide), Box Clever (The Bunker), and Yard Gal (Ovalhouse – winner of Fringe Report Awards for Best Fringe Production 2009). For Paines Plough: On The Other Hand We’re Happy, Daughterhood, Dexter and Winter’s Detective Agency (Paines Plough/Theatre Clwyd 2019 Roundabout Season); Island Town, Sticks and Stones, How To Spot An Alien (Paines Plough/Theatr Clwyd 2018 Roundabout Season), as well as With A Little Bit of Luck and Hopelessly Devoted. For the Lyric Hammersmith, as Co Director: A Midsummer Night’s Dream.
Stef O'Driscoll is involved in: Building Community
Dr Joseph Prestwich
Dr Joseph Prestwich is an academic, improviser, and actor from Blackpool, Lancashire. He is Assistant Director at ShakeItUp Theatre, a company that specialises in improvised Shakespeare, and he performs regularly in their flagship show at venues across the UK. Last year, they performed to sell-out audiences at the Edinburgh Fringe for the first time, garnering five-star reviews along the way. His work with ShakeItUp Theatre has taken him from Poland to Pentonville Prison, and in 2023, the company ran a 10-week workshop programme with the charity Change Grow Live.
Joseph also works frequently with German theatre company Theater Frankfurt as an actor and workshop leader. His first play, Goethe + Christiane, has been performed in the UK, Italy, and most recently, in Germany.
Joseph holds a PhD from King's College London, and his first academic monograph, "Staging Germanness in Contemporary British Theatre", will be published in 2025. He has taught at King's College London, the University of Cambridge, and the Guildford School of Acting, and currently works as a postdoctoral researcher on a European Research Council-funded project examining the relationship between theatre and gentrification in London.
Dr Joseph Prestwich is involved in: An Artist in the Classroom - Thursday
Nadège René
Nadège is a writer and assistant drama facilitator and director for the RADA Youth Company. Nadège has recently received a London Writers Award for her forthcoming novel The Spirit of the Ceiba Tree and funding from Arts Council England. For over eight years, she has taught, coached and mentored children and young people who have been marginalised from mainstream education. Nadège uses writing to support young people to develop their voices, cultivate a creative way of engaging with and making sense of the world around them, gently guiding them in the direction of their curiosity. In her writing, she explores generational trauma and the parallels between collective and individual experiences of overcoming. Her forthcoming novel explores the legacies of colonisation, land and memory and questions where healing can be found in 2014 London.
Nadège René is involved in: An Artist in the Classroom – Thursday
Dr Yvonne Robinson
Dr Yvonne Robinson is a researcher with over ten years’ experience of delivering commissioned research and evaluation within the arts and education sectors. Her PhD, obtained from University College London in 2004, examined the work of community arts organisations, and since then Yvonne has worked at the Nottingham Trent, Institute of Education, King’s College London and London South Bank University, where she has held various senior research positions. Undertaking research and consultancy for government and public funding agencies, Yvonne has written on the value of the arts in promoting young peoples’ wellbeing and fostering inclusive educational practice. Yvonne’s most recent position at Royal Holloway University of London was as researcher on Young Vic Taking Part’s INNOVATE programme.
Dr Yvonne Robinson is involved in: Keynote Address Panel Talk
Dr Javeria Khadija Shah
Dr Javeria Khadija Shah is a cultural sociologist and interdisciplinary scholar with expertise in policy, media education, sociology, and the visual arts. She is Associate Director of the Centre for Inclusive Pedagogy and Practice and a member of the Principal’s Office at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, University of London. She specialises in person-centred research that interrogates and re-frames societal positioning(s) of the individual and their self-identity formation - and her current research is strongly focused on the conceptualisation of socialisation as ‘social performance’. In 2018, she brought together the various strands of her practice and research to establish the Social Performance Network, which is an evolving community of practice that exemplifies a digitally convergent and socially engaged platform that is focused on connecting understandings of ‘social performance’ and inequality using concepts of ‘social theatre’.
Dr Javeria Khadija Shah is involved in: Keynote Address Panel Talk
Vincent Shiels
Vincent Shiels is a South London based actor, director, teacher and therapist. He brings with him a wealth of teaching experience, having taught in Primary and Secondary schools, 6th Form Colleges, Stage schools, Drama schools and Spotlight. Born in Ireland he trained at The Royal Irish Academy of Music and The Gaiety School of Acting before moving to London to study The Science of Acting under the tutelage of Sam Kogan. As a performer Vincent has performed in theatre, on television, film and radio in Ireland, throughout the UK and mainland Europe. Recent projects include productions for Apple TV, the BFI and BBC Radio.
Directing work includes productions at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, National Theatre Connections plays at The Albany Deptford and the Minerva in Chichester, The Irish Cultural Centre, Hammersmith and The Bridewell, London. Vincent has also written numerous plays for young people in schools which have been performed at the BAC.
Vincent is a qualified play therapist, having trained with Place2Be in London. He works with groups of SEN students and provides one to one sessions dealing with mental health issues.
Vincent is passionate about using the creative arts to help students find their natural talents and learning how to express themselves.
Vincent Shiels is involved in: An Artist in the Classroom - Tuesday
Dr Vicky Storey
Dr Vicky Storey is a Director at Chol, a children and young people’s theatre company based in Yorkshire. Chol co-create stories and performances with children and young people in schools, colleges, local community centres, libraries, and art spaces to support every young person to feel powerful, valued, and connected. Vicky specialises in reflective practice and evaluation in the arts and education sector, with a particular focus on effective forms of continued professional development and learning for artists and teachers through creative collaborations. Her unique position as a practitioner, researcher, and leader of an arts organisation offers nuanced insights into the challenges and possibilities for professional learning in these spaces.
Dr Vicky Storey is involved in: Keynote Address Panel Talk