TMESIS - Key Persons
Charles Sandford is a London born visual artist and performer, his artistic journey began at Kingston University in 2007 where he studied Fine Art and began developing a practice that combines sculpture, performance, and film. After practicing as an artist and exhibiting nationally Charles took his Masters at The Royal Academy of Dramatic Art. Since graduating from RADA in 2015 he joined Animikii for their production of ‘Origins', Took the title role in Luvas Theatre's ‘Titus Andronicus', performed with artists Lucy Beech & Edward Thomasson at Tate Britain and is developing new theatrical works with Theatre Re, Edens Cave and Volya Theatre. Charles has performed in Walking Upright and Beyond Belief for Tmesis.
Chris has worked with Tmesis for more than a decade, co-writing five nationally touring productions. Other credits include work for Channel 4, Fuel Theatre, Slung Low, China Plate, and Litfest. He is published by Nick Hern. He is also Director of Theatre in the Rough, and a reader for Playwrights' Studio Scotland. He is currently researching post-Holocene theatre and eco-dramaturgies.
Job Titles:
- ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
- Director
Elinor is Artistic Director and co-founder of Tmesis & Physical Fest. She has performed in or directed, all of Tmesis Theatre's past productions, touring nationally and internationally for the past 18 years, receiving critical acclaim for the work and development of physical theatre through the international festival, Physical Fest.
Elinor also works as a Director or Movement Director for many companies and artists nationally and internationally, including, English Touring Theatre, Leeds Playhouse, 20 Stories High, Box of Tricks, Lizzie Nunnery, Peepolykus, Fadunito, Rowena Gander, Surge Festival and the Everyman and Playhouse.
Faye was part of Tmesis Training Company 2021 & Wicked Women Creative Development Course. She is an actress, workshop leader and singer from Liverpool and graduated from the Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts with a masters degree in 2020. She has played a wide range of roles and styles including: Shannon, ‘Professional' (Hope Street Theatre, 2022) Jesus, ‘The Mysteries, Doomsday' (LIPA 2019), Pia, ‘Festen (Hope Street Theatre, 2019), Multi role, ‘Dead Heavy Fantastic' (The Black-E, 2018). Faye was also in a UK tour of Robin Hood in 2022 and has performed in multiple scratch events in the Liverpool Everyman's new writers programme.
Jaq Walker is an American actor who served eight years in the United States Air Force. He's a graduate from the New York Film Academy South Beach and earned his master's degree in Acting at Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts. Jaq is disciplined in character development, movement, immersive performance art, and devised theatre making. As a recent addition to Tmesis Theatre, Jaq hopes to continue to bring his real-life experiences and artistry to the company.
Jennifer is a performer, choreographer and Senior Lecturer in Dance and Performing Arts at Teesside University. Originally from Canada, she performed with Winnipeg's Contemporary Dancers for five years, touring across North America. Since moving to the UK nine years ago, Jennifer has worked with choreographers of international acclaim, including Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui, Gary Clarke, Rosie Kay, and Liam Steel. She danced in Joe Wright's Anna Karenina and Tom Hooper's Les Miserables. Jen is also co-director of Fully Booked Theatre who create interactive dance theatre performance for children. Jen has performed in That's Amore, Happy Hour, Beyond Belief & Memoria for Tmesis Theatre.
Job Titles:
- Stage Manager / Assistant to Director
Joey (he/they) is an emerging artist based in Liverpool. They're a third-year actor at the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts and have a passion for amplifying queer stories. Recent credits include: AD, Movement Coordinator, and Elvis in Masquerade directed by James Baker at Liverpool's Epstein Theatre. Select US performance credits include: Love for Three Oranges (Opera Philadelphia); Two Gentlemen of Verona & A Christmas Carol (Hedgerow Theatre Co). Endless love to their chosen family, the Cast and Crew of SealSkin, and Eli Randle for the wonderful opportunity. As well as you, theatre patron, for supporting the arts. @joeycolasante
Mariana is a Portuguese actress and theatre maker based in Liverpool. She's passionate about working in physical theatre, clown and film. She's an ESMAE (PT) graduated in Acting and studied Musical Theatre at the Royal Conservatory of Brussels as an Erasmus student.
Since she was 15, Mariana has been performing across Europe, collaborating with directors such as Elinor Randle (UK), Jeroen Maes (Belgium), Moncho Rodriguez (Spain), Nuno Cardoso (PT) and Radar 360 (PT). She has experience in musical theatre, street theatre, puppet theatre and Theatre in Education and was part of the Tmesis Training Company. Mariana also creates her own original devised work that explores contemporary issues.
Meike Holzmann is a freelance musician, composer, tutor, facilitator and musical director, writing and producing music for theatre, dance and film in UK, Germany, South Africa and France since graduating with a degree in music at LIPA in 2001. She is also a songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, performing and recording piano, bass, percussions, guitar and vocals with bands in UK and Germany since 1990. Highlights of her work as a composer include a collaboration with award winning South African choreographer Sbonakaliso Ndaba and Indoni Dance, Arts and Leadership Academy in Cape Town for the show "Ukwakha" in 2016, supported by Arts Council England's Artist International Development Fund, and the commission of five movements for string quartet "Heart Variations", performed by the acclaimed Liverpool String Quartet across the North West of England in 2014.
Meike has worked with Tmesis Theatre on Wolf Red, Variations of the Heart, That's Amore, Happy Hour, Beyond Belief, Walking Upright and Wicked Women.
www.meike.works
Job Titles:
- Designer
- Technical Manager
- Lighting Designer
Phil has worked as a lighting designer and technical manager in small scale theatre, dance, physical theatre and site specific work for many years. He was Technical Manager at Unity Theatre, Liverpool for over 29 years, until the COVID 19 pandemic.
Originally from Spain, Samuel Duran is a freelance performer whose career started with the company La Tourne Teatro while studying drama at ESAD in Valencia. He toured around Spain with this company for five years before moving to the UK permanently. Samuel then began working as an emerging artist for Hope Street Limited, which opened the doors to the industry in Liverpool. Specialised in physical theatre with a mixed background in acting, dance and acrobatics, Samuel has worked with Hope Street Limited, Action Transport Theatre, Tmesis Theatre and Theatre Temoin in the UK and with Brouhaha in Cuba. Sam has performed in ‘Memoria' and SealSkin for Tmesis Theatre.
Stephanie is a multidisciplinary performer who, since training at Bretton Hall and gaining her first class honours degree in Acting, has enjoyed a successful career both nationally and internationally. She trained to be an Aerialist at Barnton Circus where she is now an associate artist. She enjoys the creative process of making new work and has devised numerous theatre and circus shows.
Alongside her work as a performer, Stephanie is proud of her work as an activist. She co- founded Equity's Class Network, dedicated to improving opportunities for working class voices, of which she remains the Chair.
Stephanie is a Set and Costume Designer based in the north west. She graduated from LIPA 2016, with a 1st Class Honours Degree in Theatre and Performance Design. Stephanie aspires to create visually absorbing designs to draw the audience into the narrative, by complimenting and challenging the perceptions of storytelling. Her recent design credits include: Daydream Believers (Tmesis Training Company), Walking Upright, Beyond Belief, Wicked Women & Memoria (Tmesis Theatre), The God Delusion (The Blue Box Theatre), Dark Night Ends (Liverpool Tour) and as an assistant designer for Party Skills for the End of the World (Manchester International Festival).