Roundtable speakers

Mandy Redvers-Rowe Collective encounters Head of Participation

Mandy’s career as a lecturer, writer and performer both regionally and nationally spans 25 years. For five years she acted as Artistic Director of North West Disability Arts Forum (now DADA) and spent many years as a

lecturer in Community Theatre practice as both Liverpool Institute for the Performing Arts and at Liverpool Hope University. Her written work has been produced by the Royal Exchange (Manchester), BBC Radio, Graeae, Paines Plough and BBC Television. Mandy joined the Collective Encounters’ team in February 2012.

Karen Gallagher Karen was born in Liverpool, trained at the Laban Centre for Movement and Dance in London in the early 80’s then returned to Liverpool to develop dance in a variety of ways. Having set up the dance and mime department for Second Out Theatre Workshop (1986) a youth training scheme,

she went on to become Assistant Director at Cheshire Dance Workshop (1992-94) and is Artistic Director of MDI (1994-present). Karen is passionate about dance and how it can effect change in people’s lives alongside how as an Artform it is appreciated through creation and performance. She has been instrumental in the development of the Leap Dance festival at MDI, an annual dance festival that was extended to a yearlong programme of dance in 2010 and now a biennial. Event Producer for Decibel PAS 2011, Karen is committed to celebrating and promoting diversity in all its forms.

A Graduant of Liverpool John Moores University (LJMU) in 2007 with an MA in Social Enterprise, Karen received a BMOBO for

MDI’s community dance practice (2010) and in 2011 was a runner up for Merseyside Woman of the Year. Recently she received an MBE, awarded for services to dance in The Queen’s New Year Honours List (2012) and has been awarded an Honorary Fellow of LJMU (2014).

Matthew LinleyArtistic Director and CEO of Liverpool’s Unity TheatreMatthew often talks of Unity as ‘a place to dream’ and so is delighted that Unity is a core venue for DaDa’s envigorating, challenging

and exciting programme which imagines new futures which are so much more than skin deep. Productions which have premiered at Unity under Matthew’s directorship include Nina – a story with me and Nina Simone featuring Josette Bushell Mingo (with Riksteatern, Sweden), The Pentecost Pageant (with Hope Street CIC), Broke n Beat Collective (with 20 Stories High and Theatre Rites), Bardolph’s Box (with Up the Road Theatre), Princess and the Pea (with Action Transport), Lampedusa (with Hightide and Soho Theatre) and Chicken by Molly Davies (with Eastern Angles in Paines Plough Roundabout at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe). Previous roles include General Manager (Eastern Angles), Director (Phoenix Arts, Leicester) Arts Co-ordinator (21 South Street Arts Centre, Reading) and Arts Manager (Michael Tippett Centre, Bath). As a freelance director, producer and consultant he has worked with Phrased and Confused, Windswept Productions, Dartington Arts. EM Media, Jammy Voo, BadCo (Croatia) and House of Extreme Music Theatre (Croatia).

Harrie Muir/ Millie Dollar

A self-made Burlesque Star from the back streets of Liverpool, the glisten of glamour

awakening a lifelong yearning for the thrill of the stage. With a bump of her hips, a swish of her curls, and a pout she has danced into the hearts of many. With her frantic bump and grind dance moves, and showgirl costumes, she has brought the style of Las Vegas Grind to the stages of the UK, and Europe. Millie brings an unmistakable charm to the stage, while offering some of the sultriest performances in burlesque, she does so with a cheeky sass that enamours every audience, from Liverpool to Los Angeles.

Claire Penketh

Claire Penketh is Principal Lecturer and Head of Department of Disability and Education and a core member of the Centre for Culture and Disability Studies (CCDS) at Liverpool Hope University. Claire taught art and design in

Liverpool for 13 years before undertaking the MA Artist Teacher. She gained her doctorate in art education from Goldsmiths, University of London in 2010. Her current research applies critical disability theory to an exploration of current orthodoxies in art education. Previous work has explored inclusive and exclusive policy and practice and the application of disability studies to art education. She is Co-editor of Disability, Avoidance and the Academy: Challenging Resistance (Routledge) and joint Co-editor of the International Journal of Art and Design Education (IJADE). She has published in a range of journals including Disability & Society, Journal of Education Policy, International Journal of Inclusive Education and IJADE.

Joey Hateley

Joey Hateley is the Artistic Director of TransAction Theatre who creates innovative cross-cultural ‘performance from the periphery’ on issues of identity, inclusion, diversity and empowerment. The Gender Joker, aka Joey

Hateley is a female man who’s work ‘Q’uestion’s LGBTQI boxes, calling for a world beyond gender binaries, transcending boxes and borders of difference through politics of allegiance. As a writer, performer, educator and art-activist who creates interdisciplinary experimental work, Joey has collaborated with diverse organisations, such as Casa Trans in Ecuador, trans sex workers in Thailand; drama workshops with young people in India, Namibia, Peru and South Africa, devising a show with Peggy Shaw at the Drill Hall London, ‘Drag King Richard the 3rd’ Bristol Shakespeare festival, ‘Transcripts’ Verbatim play and touring self-devised show’s across the UK, Australia, Belgium, Sweden, Canada and USA arts festivals. www.TransActionTheatre.co.uk

Reetu Jain

Reetu Jain is a certified Therapeutic Movement Facilitator and an Indian American dancer/choreographer who has trained and performed internationally for over 25 years. Her dance repertoire includes Indian classical & folk, Bollywood, Ugandan folk, American Tribal Style belly dance and Flamenco. She was a founding member of the Urban Gypsy tribal belly dance troupe in Texas and has instructed classes and performed around the US, India, Singapore, China and other countries, including a performance in a Bollywood film with legendary Indian actor Naseeruddin Shah. As a therapeutic movement facilitator, Reetu has co-developed a gender curriculum focusing on bridging gender gaps and addressing gender and sexuality related topics and issues through innovative movement and discussion-based workshops. She has primarily worked with underserved adolescents and the transgender (hijra) community by creating an open and safe platform for self-discovery, dialogue and expression. She was selected as an ADTA Talks’ speaker at the American Dance Therapy Association’s 50th Annual Conference held in Oct 2015 and is Co-Founder of the Creative Movement Therapy Association of India (CMTAI).

Laurence Clark Laurence Clark is an internationally-acclaimed comedian, writer and actor who has cerebral palsy. His observational, political stand-up and filmed stunts demonstrate the endearing naivety and ridiculousness of human behaviour

by seeing the world through his eyes with humour and warmth. highres1He’s performed everywhere from the House of Commons to a double-decker bus in Sheffield. With television appearances on BBC, ITV and Channel 4, Laurence was the subject of the BBC1 documentary “We Won’t Drop the Baby” and has been a presenter for BBC Newsnight. He was awarded Shortlist magazine’s Funniest New Comedian and has been a finalist in the AmusedMoose Edinburgh Comedy Awards. He has blogged for BBC Ouch, The Independent and The Guardian and regularly performs with the comedy collective Abnormally Funny People.On stage he has recently toured Scotland in Birds of Paradise’s highly acclaimed dance theatre production Purposeless Movements. He has also performed in The Trouble with Richard (Graeae) and A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Octagon Theatre), about which the Guardian said “his wheelchair-assisted Wall is indeed ‘the wittiest partition that I ever heard discourse.”

Lee Ridley/ Lost Voice Guy

Lee Ridley AKA Lost Voice Guy can’t talk but isn’t silent. He is (probably) the first stand up comedian to use a communication aid. He won the BBC New Comedy Award in 2014.

Since making his first stand up performance in February 2012, Ridley has already gained quite a reputation for being both very funny and very unique. He has been described as “a wonderful comedian” by Little Britain’s Matt Lucas and has been tour support for the likes of Ross Noble, Patrick Kielty and Jason Cook. He has also told jokes/given motivational speeches for a range of charities and other similar organisations including Barclays, the NHS, Communication Matters, Find A Voice, the Royal College of Nurses, Percy Hedley School and the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists. He is also a patron of Find A Voice and Communication Matters.

Miro Griffiths

Miro has worked in disability issues for over twelve years and collaborated with various organisations, institutes and government departments on a wide range of issues pertaining to disability. In May 2014, he was

awarded an MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire) as recognition of my service to disabled people. As a member of the UK Disabled People’s Movement, Miro is aware of the necessary presence the people of the Movement have in order to raise awareness of key issues and work alongside those in decision-making positions to create positive change.His understanding of disability issues was initially shaped by his own personal experience of having a physical impairment but is now complimented with a professional and academic background in this area. As of January 2015, he is a Graduate Teaching Assistant and PhD researcher at Liverpool John Moores University. The PhD is investigating the following research question: What are the experiences of young disabled people when presented with opportunities to become active in

promoting disability rights, leading campaigns and challenging current agendas?

Nazli Tabatabai-Khatambakhsh

Nazli Tabatabai-Khatambakhsh is the founder and Artistic Director of ZENDEH, an award winning touring theatre company connecting the personal with the political since 2004. ZENDEH is an Arts Council National

Portfolio Organisation based in Newcastle, working nationally, internationally and locally. Strategic work includes Facilitator and Founder Member of Creative Case NORTH, established in 2011. Directing based roles in theatre buildings: 2001 - 20002 Awarded an Arts Council England Trainee Directorship at the CURVE (Leicester Haymarket Theatre) 2002 - 2003 Staff Director at Derby Theatres (Derby Playhouse) 2005 - 2007 Associate Director Theatre Workshop, Edinburgh Academic experience lecturing and directing: 2003 - 2007 Visiting Lecturer and Visiting Director of Directing and Theatre at Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh. Education at graduate level: 1999 BSc Hons in Media Technology from the University of the West of Scotland (University of Paisley), specialising in: digital filmmaking, online content creation and management, and developing online learning resources.

Rebecca Ross-Williams

Rebecca is Engagement Director at Everyman and Playhouse and developed the Theatres Learning programme which works with schools, colleges and Universities in the city region. She founded the Community Outreach programme which focuses on

under-represented people and which has been nominated for awards for using arts for social change. The most recent development is Young Everyman and Playhouse (YEP) which provides participatory on the job training for young people in a variety of theatre strands. YEP aims to provide a navigable

route from first engagement to professional training/employment and was voted Stage School of the Year 2015 (Stage Awards). Rebecca is passionate about diversity and has spear headed the theatres development work in this area which was awarded TMA Diversity Award 2015.

Rachel Rogers

Rachel studied BA then MA Theatre and Performance at Aberystwyth then worked with the Centre for Performance Research as a Curator, Producer and Project Manager.Rachel moved to Liverpool in 2005 to begin

work at MDI (Merseyside Dance Initiative) as Project Development Manager a role that cemented her passion for dance and combined work with communities with working directly with artists on creative projects. In 2012, Rachel was awarded a Winston Churchill Fellowship to research performance for, with and by older people on the East Coast of the USA. Rachel has an MA in Cultural Leadership from John Moores University, is on the board of Lisa Simpson Inclusive Dance in Knowsley, ZU-UK – London based immersive theatre organisation and has recently joined the board of Homotopia in Liverpool. Rachel is also a keen runner (sometimes!) and bivouac-er.

Dr Richard Nutter

Richard joined the staff of DaDaFest in October 2016 from Royal Liverpool Philharmonic where he worked as Executive Director of LARC (Liverpool Arts Regeneration Consortium). LARC comprises seven of the major cultural organisations in

Liverpool and was established in 2007 with the aim of ensuring

that the cultural sector contributes more effectively to the social and economic renewal of the City and City region.Prior to joining LARC Richard worked in Liverpool City Council as Assistant Director for Regeneration Policy and Programmes. Before this he worked for Government Office North West where he was responsible for managing the European funding programmes in North West England, including the highly successful Merseyside Objective 1 programme.

Janet Price

Janet is a feminist disabled campaigner who advocates queer crip politics. She works on issues of sexuality, disability and social justice largely in UK and India. Janet is strongly committed to the arts and their role in advancing marginalised people’s agency.

Sam Wade

Sam started working for DaDaFest in 2009 as a freelance coordinator; she helped to deliver DaDaFest International 2009 and 2010. In 2011 Sam took over running the young peoples programme at DaDaFest and has

loved working with the young people in Merseyside to deliver a number of large scale and exciting projects. Sam is a qualified visual arts teacher with five years teaching experience and experience of working within the creative industries prior to becoming a teacher.Sam is a passionate project manager whose enthusiasm for enabling people especially young people to reach their potential drives her to run the best projects possible.

Aleasha ChaunteAleasha was born in Birmingham, England in the late 70s. At aged four she was paralysed by a virus and hospitalised for 18 months. Her mother consoled her by buying a fortnightly story book and tape series which thrilled, terrified and obsessed her around the clock. Those stories (many of which she can still tell you almost word for word) were the beginning of a passion that led her into the world of creative practice.After studying theatre at Goldsmiths College in 97 she went on to form several fringe theatre groups, to travel and live in several countries and to study acting with Teatr Piesn Kozla. With her voice she is interested in the potential of the human voice as an expressive entity indivisible from the inner experience of the vocalist. With a camera in her hand she is interested in the textures of light and land and her obsession with photographing directly into the sun (not advised without a filtered lens).As a theatre maker she is interested in communicating in non-rational ways and in the power of old stories to teach and transform.www.aleashachaunte.com

Garry Robson

Garry Robson is currently the Artistic Director of Fittings MultiMedia Arts Liverpool and Birds of Paradise Theatre Co. Glasgow.He’s directed over 40 professional productions both here and abroad receiving several awards including a Manchester Evening News Theatre Award, a Herald Angel and a Moscow Golden Mask nomination. He has been a Drama advisor for both the Arts Council of England and the Scottish Arts Council and was an Unlimited Awards panel member for the Cultural

Olympiad. He was Artistic Director of DaDaFest International 2008 and 2010 and for DaDaFest 2012 he Co- Curated a major contemporary Arts Exhibition Niet Normaal: Difference on Display.In 2016 he has Directed a Hip Hop Theatre installation for young people Café Missing, The Last Show in Siberia for KultProject Moscow at the Skomorokh State Puppet Theatre Tomsk, a body swap comedy at A Play a Pie and a Pint in Glasgow and “Miranda and Caliban : The Making of a Monster” in Hong Kong as part of the Shakespeare Lives Festival.