Designed to provide a supportive environment through which to start your career as a Participatory Arts Practitioner.
Be mentored by one of our Creative Associates who will be able to share with you their knowledge and experience.
You will be paired with a mentor who will provide you with one-to-one guidance and practical experience to help build your confidence, resilience and skills to forge a career as a freelance creative practitioner.
The aim of the programme is to bridge the gap between early training and working as a successful freelance practitioner.
Say hi to Alicia and Ana!
Alicia Fernandes, 24, is an actress from North London. Alicia studied BA Hons Acting at Arts University Bournemouth, where she facilitated and led drama workshops for children at Heathlands Primary School in Dorset! Alicia is a passionate, and ambitious individual with many dreams and aspirations within her acting career. She loves working with children, and would one day like to start a local drama club for children, due to the lack of creative opportunities in North London. She’s currently running her own theatre company, Nalini, centering global majority stories… and is featuring in the Camden Fringe Festival this August! Fun fact: One of the things that drew Alicia to Go Live’s Mentorship programme…she took part in their Summer Stage programme in 2014 as a student…full circle moment! She cannot wait to join as an assistant this summer!
Ana is a Portuguese born actor, entrepreneur and astrology enthusiast. She is passionate about work that sets new boundaries. Ana is currently expanding her facilitating skills, specialising in ESOL learners, as Ana herself came to England when she was 10 and did not know any English. She is also a Creative Youth Ambassador, which is a panel of 10 young creative that are changing the arts industry. She will be part of the Fuse International Festival this coming Summer, in a more movement way.
My name is Marian Hoddy and I am a theatre practitioner, creative arts facilitator and children's storyteller. With over 12 years' experience of planning, delivering and supporting creative arts projects.
I am also the co-founder of Handprint Theatre; a Deaf and hearing accessible theatre company.
I am passionate about working with young people and advocating to make theatre and creative arts opportunities to be as inclusive for all as possible. Exploring different artistic forms of accessibility and communication with families, schools and community groups to bring stories to life. With the aim to empower young people and to celebrate their voices, stories and ideas.
My storytelling and theatre adventures have taken me to projects around the UK, the channel islands and across the pond to America and I am always excited to see what projects could be created next!
I am also a proud creative associate for Go Live Theatre Projects and love working as part of the team. As they share the passion and ethos that theatre should be for everyone! There is such magic in going to the theatre or being a part of creative projects and every young person should experience that sense of joy and wonder. Especially where accessibility is not a barrier.
What inspired me to take part in this year's mentorship programme was remembering how I felt when I first started out. I remember trying to find my feet as a creative whilst navigating the arts industry and freelance world. It felt both exciting and over whelming. At times it was even lonely and I was often completely clueless in what I was doing. I found having people who I could turn to for professional advice and help was priceless (and still is). A conversation, skills share and even a word of encouragement can go a long way and I hope I can do that for a young person starting out on their own creative journey.
I am a facilitator, community director and playwright who works across many groups, but I mainly specialise in working with ESOL learners (English for Speakers of Other Languages). I have over ten years experience of facilitating with groups across London and outside; including main stream learners, young carers, SEND, survivors of domestic violence and refugee, asylum seekers and undocumented people. I have worked both within theatres and outside in local communities, taking groups in everything from charities, libraries and even a fire station!
Additionally to theatre I also have a comedy back ground, having written and directed sketch shows, performed in improv shows and even gigging as a stand-up for a while, hence using my knowledge of comedy to create sessions which are fun, playful and provide respite. I lead workshops on drama, employability, creative writing and comedy.
I decided to take part in the mentorship programme because I know how difficult it is to break into this industry, as someone who knew absolutely no one in it when I was starting out. I would have loved a programme like this and believe they are key to making sure this industry is, not only accessible, but grows to include a multitude of voices and experiences, which feels very much threatened in our current political and economic climate. I also relish the opportunity to reflect on my own practice and how it can also continue to grow and evolve.