Meet the Team

Michelle Smith

Artistic Director & Founder

Michelle founded Theatre for Life in 2017, she wanted to create a community organisation which helped to equalise opportunities and empower individuals through the arts.

TRAINING: BA Hons Performing Arts and PGCE (Institute of Education, UCL’s Faculty of Education and Society)

CREDITS: Trained teacher (22 years), community director, producer, creative health programming and consultancy for Solent Mind, NHS and University of Southampton. Workshop facilitator in education and community engagement, including wellbeing and creativity at University Arts London. Professional development facilitator and guest speaker for Acta and Creative Arts and Health South West (Positive Futures 2020).

CONTACT: michellesmith@theatreforlife.co.uk

Dominic Green

Theatre for Life Company writer

Dom is a young Southampton-based writer.

TRAINING: BA (Hons) Writing for Performance: Central School of Speech and Drama

CREDITS: Dom scripted Theatre for Life’s street-theatre show about climate change ‘Generation Anthropocene’. He has also written scripts in residence at MAST Mayflower Studios and The National Archives, including the audio drama ‘Your Unfortunate Servants’. You can find his work at domgreen.co.uk

Naomi White

Education lead for Theatre for Life

Naomi supports Theatre for Life as education lead, liaising and connecting with educational and community establishments to help develop our projects, programmes and performances.

TRAINING: BA (Hons) English with Drama (University of Winchester); PGCE (University of Southampton); MA Education (University of Southampton)

CREDITS: Trained secondary school teacher since 2006, specialising in KS3 and GCSE English and KS3, GCSE and A-level Drama and Theatre Studies; Head of Drama in two secondary schools; trainee teacher mentor; educational consultant and community support for drama and theatre organisations; Open Drama UK Hampshire Champion.

CONTACT: education@theatreforlife.co.uk

Amy Spencer

Art and Photography workshop leader

TRAINING :BA Sociology
MA Photography and Urban Cultures.
Goldsmiths University of London.

Amy Spencer is a visual artist, photographer and sociologist, specialising in creative and qualitative research techniques. She uses a multitude of different art forms, ranging from collage, poetry, found objects, informal interviews, painting and walking.
Since leaving university, Amy has continued to be part of numerous research projects, curated art exhibitions and has extensively documented alternative communities across London and Europe.

She now works in Southampton's John Hansard Gallery with a youth group called JHG collective and SWVG, a refugee artists group. She is also a creative mentor working with young people (through SCEP and SOCO MUSIC).

Samantha Gilroy

Theatre for Life movement director and workshop leader

TRAINING: BA Hons in Dance (Falmouth University), Masters Degree (University of Chichester)

CREDITS: A Dance Artist based in the South West, Sam is passionate about developing exciting and interactive conversations, classes, workshops, and performances. Sam makes uplifting socio-political work with, by and for local communities, inspired by personal stories from people across all ages to grow connections, representation, and a sense of belonging. She collaborates with professional artists and community members aged 8-78+ to create compelling and dynamic storytelling. Sam’s work is athletic, exciting, evocative, sensitive and relevant.

Ayse Evans

Writer & drama workshop facilitator

TRAINING: BA Hons in Drama and Performance and CertHE (East 15 Acting School)

CREDITS: Royal court introductory program – 2019/2020, Mrs C’s collective – Writer’s collective – 2020, London Playwright’s – Writer’s development program – 2020, The Pappy Show – Mentorship program 2022 , Shy Bairn Theatre – Creative Activist Burnout mentorship scheme. Watching a Whale Fall 2nd R&D Facilitator (National Youth Theatre), F-wordz Dramaturg and Facilitator (Sam G Creates).

Nicola Fisher

Applied Theatre and Education workshop leader

TRAINING: BA (Hons) Contemporary Performance Practice: Drama, Applied Theatre and Education, 1st class (Central School of Speech and Drama, London)

CREDITS: Nikki is a Creative Practitioner based in Southampton.
Facilitating, co-directed and co-produced film projects and online workshops with the over 60s group, Encore Theatre Company. Created and facilitated fun online workshops with charity Body & Soul, building resilience with young children who have HIV or trauma (ACEs). Peer Productions (2017-18): co-created a podcast about forgotten women through history and toured shows to schools. Currently works at the Point and Berry Theatres. Also acts in newly established The Garret Theatre Company (2022 - Alice, Alice in Wonderland & Beth, Little Women).

Becks Granger

Drama and Theatre workshop leader

TRAINING: Bristol Old Vic Theatre School: MA Theatre Directing, Rose Bruford College: BA (Hons) European Theatre Arts.

Becks Granger is a southampton based creative who finds joy in the magic of theatre. They makes work fizzing with energy, ensemble and spark. They have extensive drama facilitation experience across the UK and Switzerland, and are currently the Youth Theatre Director at The Point, Eastleigh. CREDITS: Director - The Welkin (University of Northampton), Director - Jumpers for Goalposts (The Wardrobe Theatre, Bristol); Assistant Director - Dinosaurs and All That Rubbish (National Tour, Roustabout Theatre, dir. Toby Hulse); Assistant Director/Understudy Penny Danza, Catastrophe Bay (dir. Derek Bond, Bristol Old Vic Theatre).