Meet the Young Company Practitioners

Alexandra Wollacott 

(She/Her)

Actor, movement director, facilitator and drag king

Alex creates work with young people that involves dynamic movement, and nurturing their authentic theatrical voices. She graduated from Bristol Old Vic’s Made In Bristol scheme in 2017 (InkBloc Ensemble), and has since graduated with a first class degree in acting. Alex brings a unique energy and openness to devising process and loves investigating the building blocks of theatre making.

Krista Matthews

Writer, director and dramaturg

Krista was part of Bristol Old Vic’s Made In Bristol scheme (2016/2017) and is a graduate of The Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, where she studied Drama, Applied Theatre and Writing for performance. Krista’s practice focusses on collaboration, often with young people, and creating work which is firmly rooted in challenging what theatre or performance can be. Krista has also recently began facilitating workshops in a secure children’s home, using theatre skills as a tool for self-advocacy.

Julia Head

Director and theatre maker

Julia’s practice challenges young people to take risks, to try new things, to make work that excites them, challenges the audience and breaks some rules in the process. Julia Head is a director of live work from Bristol. Julia graduated from Bristol Old Vic’s Made in Bristol scheme in 2016 and now works extensively with Bristol Old Vic’s Engagement department.

Frazer Meakin

Director, movement director and facilitator working across theatre and film

Frazer is a graduate of Bristol Old Vic Theatre School’s MA in Drama Directing. He is passionate about bold, ambitious and innovative storytelling and has experience working across a wide range of styles and forms: from devising physical theatre to Shakespeare, musical theatre to stand-up comedy. 

Collaboration and ensemble are at the heart of his practice. He loves facilitating and using the arts as a catalyst for imagination and importantly giving a voice to all; encouraging ‘yes’ in a world of ‘no’.

Lydia Johnston

Theatre Maker, facilitator and performer

Lydia was part of Bristol Old Vic's Made In Bristol 2019/2020 and studied Theatre and French at University of Bristol. Through Bristol Old Vic, Lydia has worked with Hauser & Wirth Somerset, and mainstream and SEN schools across Bristol. She helps young people to develop their awareness, confidence and playfulness on stage. Together they devise the stories that the young people feel need telling.

Emile Clarke 

Performer, puppeteer and educator

Emile is a LIPA trained performer with a host of credits in theatre, film and cross platform story telling. From performing in the UK theatre award winning 'Little Mermaid' to puppeteering for Disney.

As an educator he designs workshops for institutes that champion diversity and authenticity in the film and theatre industries and works for companies such as 'Picture House Cinema group', 'Refugee Youth', ‘Museum of London' and the ‘Tender’ charity. Emile has a passion for creating positive environments for learning and play.

Xahnaa Adlam

Theatre maker, facilitator and performer

Xahnaa attended the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama on the BA Drama, Applied Theatre and Education course.

Within her practice, Xahnaa uses the theatre to assist the people, not the people to assist the theatre. She creates environments where the creative energy and direction is participant driven. Xahnaa is there to shape the space and anchor the work. It is the participants, through their growth, exploration and collaboration who will fill it in. 

She is a recipient of the Henry Forse Award for outstanding commitment to the Bristol Old Vic Engagement department.

Jack Orozco Morrison

Theatre maker, musical director, sound designer and performer

Jack is a Bristol-based creative whose work revolves heavily around devising. He participated in the Made in Bristol course in 2015/2016 and has since worked frequently with the Bristol Old Vic Engagement department as a musical director, sound designer and workshop leader. He also works as a freelance creative, having worked on many shows in a multi-disciplinary style. 

He is a recipient of the Henry Forse award for outstanding commitment to the Bristol Old Vic Engagement department.

Harry Gould

Director and theatre maker

Harry graduated from Bristol Old Vic’s Made in Bristol scheme in 2020 and then went on to study an MA in Directing at LAMDA.

He is interested in new stories about and for young people with a particular focus on the mental health of young people and the role theatre can play in tackling related issues exacerbated by modern living and the pandemic. Harry’s practice always aims to create a sense of community, and to empower artists and audiences, to use their imagination and be challenged to empathize. 

Weronika Dwornik

Facilitator, theatre maker and director

Weronika is a Bristol-based artist with experience working across different mediums, from devised theatre to filmmaking and creative writing. They are an experienced facilitator and producer interested in ways of placing creativity at the heart of community building.

Weronika attended the Drama, Applied Theatre and Education course at Royal Central School of Speech and Drama and studied Filmmaking at Screenology Film School. 

Hope Thain

(she/her)

Director and facilitator

Hope is passionate about making work with young people in a way that encourages self-expression and imagination with sensitivity and joy! She often explores storytelling through movement and music and works to build a collaborative space for all voices to be heard. Along with directing and facilitating, Hope has experience as a dramaturg, movement director, writer and vocal coach.

Hope graduated with a MA in Drama Directing Bristol Old Vic Theatre School in 2021, and previous to that, studied English Literature at The University of Bristol.

Imogen Downes

Director, deviser, actor and writer

Imogen is a director, deviser, actor and writer from Bristol. She trained on Bristol Old Vic's Made In Bristol scheme in 2018, and since then has created work with young people across the South West.

Her workshops encourage creativity that is collaborative, playful and empowering, providing a space to not only develop key theatrical skills, but connect with yourself and others in a meaningful way.

Cameron Thorne

Facilitator and director

Cameron is a graduate from the Bristol Old Vic’s Made in Bristol course, the University of the West of England and a former teacher. Cameron is a facilitator and director who through his work, aims to promote inclusivity and access within Theatre for neurodiverse and disabled young people. 

Lydia Cook

Director and theatre maker

Lydia Cook is a Bristol-based Director/Theatre maker whose style is immersive, courageous and bold with elements of music and movement. Her aim as a director is to showcase the voices of people from global majority backgrounds and queer LGBTQIA+ communities and shine a light on their stories. Lydia aspires to create theatre that is accessible for all to experience and enjoy. 

Mia Macleod

Actor, singer and theatre maker

Mia Macleod is an actor, singer and theatre maker. Having trained with the University of the West of England, the National Youth Theatre, and Bristol Old Vic’s Made in Bristol, Mia has a love for all things music and movement. As a facilitator Mia always brings play into the room, helping to find and celebrate the uniqueness in those she works with.