Theatre Production

Michelle Payne

Director / Writer

Bio

Michelle is a director and writer from Essex recently working on artist-led programme Future Forms with the Donmar Warehouse under the guidance of Sacha Wares.

Michelle was a 2019 recipient of the Regional Theatre Young Directors’ Scheme completing a three month residency at the Mercury Theatre Colchester. Here she assisted Ryan McBryde on Cinderella which was nominated for Best Pantomime at the Great British Panto Awards.

Her immersive play Squad Goals at Dagenham & Redbridge F.C. in 2020 received multiple 4 & 5 star reviews and features from theatre and national press including The Stage & The Guardian before being published by Salamander Street in April 2021.

Recent Directing Credits:

Dear Dead Jason by Jen Moss (R&D) Bruised Sky Productions, The Liberators by Michelle Payne (new writing) for PPA 3rd Year Acting for Stage & Screen, My Three Sisters by Holly Rose Hawgood (R&D) at The Bush, Jess by Stephanie Silver (digital theatre) with The Space UK Online which received an ONCOMM for Digital Theatre, The Offies, Squad Goals by Michelle Payne (immersive/new writing/dance) at Dagenham & Redbridge FC, Find Me by No Fixed Address at VAULT Festival and Ordinary Days (musical) at Rose & Crown.

Further Writing Credits:

Memory Box (winner: Mercury Monologues), Sad About the Cows (Tristan Bates Theatre).

Michelle is currently developing two new musicals. Enthusiastically, Yes! about sexual consent with singer-songwriter Craig Webb with the support of Harlow Playhouse. A song from the show was performed at The Garrick (West End) in Oct 2021 as part of Adam Lenson Productions & Aria Entertainment’s The Chamber Musical Sessions. And The Untitled Mind Over Matter Musical Project produced by mental health organisation Mind Over Matter which will be in R&D in Feb 2022 at Theatre Peckham supported by Arts Council England.

EMY.P

Musical Director / Composer

Bio

Composer, Spoken Word Artist, BBC featured poet and Musician born and raised in Essex. On a personal mission to raise awareness and DE stigmatize the negative viewpoints surrounding ADHD in adults, EMY’s honest writing approach and dark humour delves into the minds of everyday people as well as her own wired brain. Emy.P featured in the list of TOP 50 Neurodivergent Women 2019 and recently won Undiscovered UK Spoken Word artist award.

Fisky

Producer

Bio

Fisky is a Poet, Rapper, Public Speaker and founder of Mind Over Matter.

Fisky started MoM the day he got sober after a twenty year battle with depression and addiction. Since then, he has watched it become the platform he never had.

MoM events and workshops have helped people with depression, addiction, anxiety and often opened difficult conversations. Growing organically, MoM has collaborated with Tedx, The Lost Lectures, London’s City Hall, The Tavistock & Portman and in April 2019 Fisky and Miss Yankey hosted MoM’s first international event in Melbourne, Australia.

Writing has always been Fisky’s therapist. He draws on his twenty years lived experience with depression and addiction to raise awareness, let people know they aren’t alone, process his own struggles and project positive energy.

Fisky is also part of the #FLOpoet collective mentored by Natalie ‘Floacist’ Stewart, founding member of Multi Grammy nominated Neo Soul group, Floetry.

Tash Thomas

Associate Producer / Choreographer

Bio

Tash T, originally trained at Performers College, Essex, where she studied both Musical Theatre and Dance. Since graduating credits include: Lead Vocalist (Ted UK), Assistant Dance Captain (Carnival Cruise Lines), Claire (Dusty Forever), Leigh-Anne Pinncok (Little Mix).