Backstage to the Future

Alexis johnson, Course leader and trainer

Currently the Learning Director at Walk the Plank and an Associate Lecturer at London Southbank University, Alexis will be responsible for developing the Backstage to the Future training and leading modules in access, audience development, and artist liaison.

With over twenty years of experience in arts education, training, participatory arts and project management and programming, Alexis' past roles including Associate Lecturer at University of London, Head of Innovation at Westminster Kingsway College, and Head of Education at Institute of Contemporary Arts (ICA). She runs a large range of youth programmes including annual youth theatre productions with Dream Arts, acting as Creative Director of ‘Blue Train’ in East Thames Foyers (2012); and working on the 2012 London Olympics Young Games-Maker programme for the Paralympics.

Alexis has previously worked alongside the British Council when she was commission to deliver Creative Environments in 2003-4, and on the Creative Cities project 2015-16 in Nigeria. She is currently developing the learning programme for Walk the Plank’s new capital project creative training and making hub.

 

 Liz Pugh, trainer

Liz is the Co-Founder, Artistic Director and Creative Producer of Walk the Plank, formed part of Independent Street Arts Network’s Cultural Leadership Initiative, and sits on the board of Xtrax, NW Street Arts Agency, and Blackpool’s Creative People & Places project, Left Coast. She will be delivering training covering the topics of marketing and communications (with a focus on digital marketing), stage management, and an overview of the artistic content within technical production at Backstage to the Future.

For over thirty years Liz has been producing site-responsive theatre, one-off commissions and touring performances throughout the UK, including the UK’s only theatre ship’s national touring programme. Her work invites people to collaborate, connect, and celebrate in new ways, often in response to particular locations or special occasions. In the UK she has worked as a producer on events for cultural celebrations including Diwali, Chinese New Year, the Fifth of November, Hull’s Freedom Festival, and the Manchester Day Parade. Internationally, Liz has worked on the opening of Turku 2011 Capital of Culture, and is currently the Artistic Director for the opening show for Pafos 2017, European Capital of Culture.

Liz went to the Ukraine with the British Council as one of three Canny Creatives, exploring opportunities for UK companies to connect Ukrainian artists and organisations with expertise, and to develop new partnerships. Along with Alexis, she was also one of Walk the Plank’s trainers for the Creative Cities training in Nigeria.

You can follow Liz @LizPugh on Twitter. 

 

Rob Hill, trainer

Rob works for Walk the Plank on the technical and production side, and in lighting as a freelance worker. He will be delivering training in lighting design and technical production at Backstage to the Future.

Beginning his career as a freelancer working in theatre and community arts projects, Rob specialised mainly in Youth Music Development and over time his broad interest in all aspects of Arts led him into technical and production management. He has spent the last twenty years developing  work in this field, particularly in site specific, outdoor, spectacle and fire shows. Rob has worked internationally with companies in Portugal, India, Finland and Holland, and with UK companies including Welfate State International, Walk the Plank, External Combustion, Liverpool Lantern Company, DaDa Festival (disability arts), Pentabus, Foursight Theatre, The Fetch and Ham Fisted. 

Recently, Rob has moved into set building and technical prop making, with a specialism in low-voltage lighting design and installation in costumes, props and sets. In his Production Management work, he has been concentrating more on event production design, particularly in outdoor and site-responsive contexts.

 

Anne-Marie reid cofie, Trainer

 A Stage Manager with Walk the Plank, Anne-Marie will give stage management and technical production training at Backstage to the Future.

Anne-Marie has worked for over fifteen years as a Stage Manger specialising in community and youth shows and events. She has taught stage management and mentored young people from diverse backgrounds and needs with DreamArts, many of whom continued with Anne-Marie to stage manage professional shows including the Winter Festival; a community cohesion indoor festival (2009-12), and World Aids day at London Hippodrome (2014).  She has also worked on the Caribbean Women Diplomats events (2013).

Currently, Anne-Marie stage managers dance, poetry, theatre, comedy and cabaret shows for Sheba Montserrat productions.

Carlos Roberto Pedruzzi, Course leader

Carlos is a telecommunications engineer, consultant in sound systems, designer of sound and conditioning and acoustic insulation systems, PA and systems operator at music concerts. 

He has worked on many projects as a sound designer, including Projeto Aquariu’s at Quinta da Boa Vista, Forte Copacabana, Palácio do Catete, Enseada de Botafogo, Praia do Leme, Aterro do Flamengo, Reveillons at Copacabana, Missa Campal with SS Papa João Paulo II at Aterro do Flamengo, Rock in Rio I and II, Paul MacCartney, Tina Turner, Santa Claus at Maracanã, Free Jazz Festivais at Teatro do Hotel Nacional, Rio; Prêmios Sharp de música, Shell de música, Orquestra Sinfônica Brasileira, Maria Bethânia, Quarteto Tom Jobim, Ed Motta, Billy Paul, Plácido Domingos, Groove Washington Jr., Marina Lima, Guilherme Arantes, Zélia Duncan, Simone, João Donato, Marcos Valle, Roberto Menescal, Os Cariocas, Quarteto em CY and Wanda Sá.

 

Lilla Stipp, Trainer

Lilla will deliver audio production training at Backstage to the Future.

She has been working with bands performing small and medium concerts in São Paulo for over ten years, diversifying into several other areas of audio work including studios, concerts, theatres and musicals.

Recently, Lilla has become interested in technical coordination and is currently a freelance audio technician working with several artists.

 

Renato MuÑoz, Trainer

Renato has been working at IATEC for the last thirteen years as a sound design teacher, and will deliver training in that area at Backstage to the Future.

Having been working in audio design for over twenty years, Renato has worked on concerts for artists including Tom Jobim, Gilberto Gil, Titãs, Paralamas do Sucesso, Kid Abelha, and also coordinated the sounding system of the famous "Circo Voador" in Rio de Janeiro. As a producer at the producer Liminha's studio "Nas Nuvens" for over ten years, Renato worked directly with Barão Vermelho, Cidade Negra, Skank, Caetano Veloso, Gilberto Gil, Edu Lobo, Leo Jaime, Kid Abelha, Chico Science & Nação Zumbi, Paralamas do Sucesso, Cássia Eller and others.

Since 2005, Renatio has been responsible for mixing Skank concerts, and has worked on audio for television events including Lollapalooza, Rock in Rio, Prêmio Multishow de música, VMB, and several others for the TV channels MTV and Globosat. 

 

Ben Davies-Coleman, Apprentice

Ben was born and raised in Zimbabwe, and now lives with his family in Blairgowrie, Scotland. He completed an HNC in Hospitality at Perth College UHI, then went on to study a HND Technical Theatre which he graduated from in 2016. Earlier in 2016 he took part in a Scottish Drama Training Network and National Theatre of Scotland joint initiative on a student work placement working with lighting, sound and set teams for a site specific production of 306: The Dawn. 

Ben is a keen musuician and recently completed ten months volunteering as a lighting designer and technician for Birnam Art Centre. 

 

Emma Coleman, Apprentice

Emma completed an NC in Sound Production in 2013 and in June 2016 graduated from Perth College UHI with a HND in Technical Theatre. Like Ben, she took part in a student work placement in lighting, sound and set teams for 306: The Dawn between Scottish Drama Training Network and National Theatre of Scotland. 

 

James Gaffney, Apprentice

James is currently studying a HND in technical theatre at Ayrshire College, and has spent the past six years working various roles in theatre. He has volunteered as a technician at the Gaiety for the last three years and has also worked as a freelance technician at a local club venue. 

James is a scout leader with his local troop, and has a great interest in Athletics.

 

Riona Gilliland, Apprentice

Originally from Falkirk, Scotland, Riona graduated from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland in July 2016 with a BA in Production Technology and Management, specalising in Stage Management. In April 2016 Riona was part of the stage management team for Shakespeare 400: Dream On, working with the Royal Conservatoire Scotland BA Performance in British Sign Language and English and Modern Ballet students. 

Alice Castanho Miranda

Alice studied Cultural Production and Events at the Escola Técnica Estadual Adolpho Bloch – FAETEC and Stage Management at Spectaculu – Escola Fábrica de Espetáculos. She has been involved in the arts since the age of 5, when she took her first steps in dance.

 

Carlos Henrique Vieira da Cunha

Carlos lives in the Nova Holanda Favela in Maré. He works for Produção da Lona Cultural da Maré, a cultural production team in the city of Rio de Janeiro. He runs the dance project Maré sobre Saltos, is a speaker for TRAVESSIAS 4 (a visual arts exhibition in Galpão Bela Maré), a Production Assistant for Teatro Utopia Workshops on the Multiplicidades Project, runs the Universidade das Quebradas and did the production for the film MORE MARÉ for the Food 2.0 project.

 

Fernanda Dias Báfica

Fernanda has been involved with theatre since the age of seven. She has completed two professional courses at the former Casa de Dramaturgia Carioca and the Escola de Teatro Estadual Martins Penn, and graduated from college in Psychology. Whilst at Martins, she helped to put together the Carranca Theatre Collective, and has been acting as their producer since.

 

Fernanda Venancia Barboza Salarolli

Fernanda is a sound technician at Senai Laranjeiras, where she has worked for the last three years, and is also studying phonographic production at Estácio.

 

Isa da Silva Maia

Isa has worked in the arts since beginning a course in stage management in 2013. During an internship at the Teatro Municipal do Rio de Janeiro she fell in love with scenery and operating scenery, and still works in that area. She aims to one day be a stage manager at an international level.

 

Ivan Coelho Dantas de Araújo

Ivann is from Rio de Janeiro, and has had an interest in lighting since 2012. He took the “iluminação para arte” course at EAV Parque Laje and in 2014 got more involved with lighting at the Rio Museum of Art. Since then he has completed varying works integrating teams from the BeLight company.

 

Jonas Henrique Soares Silva

Jonas is an actor and lighting technician. He was part of the Teatral Expressarte Verbalizando group from 2009 until 2012, has participated in the 10th International Children’s Cinema Festival doing voice overs, acted in several theatres in Rio de Janeiro, was responsible for lighting at the 2015 Elifas Andreato Exhibition, has been a lighting technician at the Centro de Referencia da Musica since 2013, and has worked on over 500 shows.

 

José Luiz da Silva Correa

José decided to study cultural production at high school, and has been involved with the arts and their technical counterparts ever since. Today he work alternately with lighting, as a producer, and also as a circus artist.

 

Isa da Silva Maia

Isa has worked in the arts since beginning a course in stage management in 2013. During an internship at the Teatro Municipal do Rio de Janeiro she fell in love with scenery and operating scenery, and still works in that area. She aims to one day be a stage manager at an international level.

 

Ivan Coelho Dantas de Araújo

Ivann is from Rio de Janeiro, and has had an interest in lighting since 2012. He took the “iluminação para arte” course at EAV Parque Laje and in 2014 got more involved with lighting at the Rio Museum of Art. Since then he has completed varying works integrating teams from the BeLight company.

 

Jonas Henrique Soares Silva

Jonas is an actor and lighting technician. He was part of the Teatral Expressarte Verbalizando group from 2009 until 2012, has participated in the 10th International Children’s Cinema Festival doing voice overs, acted in several theatres in Rio de Janeiro, was responsible for lighting at the 2015 Elifas Andreato Exhibition, has been a lighting technician at the Centro de Referencia da Musica since 2013, and has worked on over 500 shows.

 

José Luiz da Silva Correa

José decided to study cultural production at high school, and has been involved with the arts and their technical counterparts ever since. Today he work alternately with lighting, as a producer, and also as a circus artist.

 

Raíssa Teixeira de Oliveira

Raíssa is a Production and Political Culture at Rio Grande do Sul. She is both an audiovisual and a lighting technician with a specialisation in filming, having studied audiovisual through the Fundação de Apoio a Escola Técnica (FAETEC) and lighting through the NGO Escola Fábrica de Espetáculos (SPECTACULU).

 

Stephanye Souza Corrêa

Stephanye is currently a student at IATEC on the technical electronics course with a specialisation in audio, having previously graduated in law from UFRJ. She chose to follow her dreams of working in the arts through an internship at the faculty and a job as a freelance designer. She worked on the production Vai que Cola program alongside technician Dudu Lauriano, and at IATEC was a volunteer in the Fórum Profissão e Entretenimento, and today is an instructor for the free courses and workshops. 

 

Taiane Pereira de Oliveira Gomes

Tay is a Performing Arts Graduate from UFRJ who has interned on the arts team for the Nova Iguaçu Culture Secretary. She is a producer of the Feira Gambiarra event, which takes place each month in Nova Iguaçu, and also works as a costume designer, cultural designer, model, blogger and youtuber. She writes a feminist fashion blog called “Blog da Taya”, with the objective of empowering black women within the fashion industry and workplace. As a digital influencer she has more than 15,000 followers on social networks.

 

Victoria dos Santos Vecchi

Victoria is a recently graduated audio professional looking to broaden her understanding to the maximum and be active in the various fields this area encompasses.

 

Luiz Felipe Rodrigues da Silva Rosa

Luiz is a stage lighting student who sums up his life by 'beach, sun, nature and surfing'. He likes working with people who are passionate about their jobs, and is always looking to expand his comfort zone.

 

Tainã Alves Miranda

Tainã was born in Rio de Janeiro, and studied geography at UFF 2014, when she decided to travel to Europe. After a year of travel she returned to Brazil and started a course in stage lighting, beginning her involvement with the world of art and light.

 

André Gustavo Martins Silva

André believes that a space for creativity exists within technical roles. He entered the theatre to work with lighting without any previous knowledge but with a great willing to learn, and wants to take what he has learnt back to help those in his local area. I came from an area in the city (the west) that has virtually no structures or apparatus for culture. Now I have access and opportunities to participate that allow me to bring what I learn back to the places I come from, but there is still much to learn and change.

 Bruna Bertuol Fachetti

Bruna is an actor and producer from Blumenau, Santa Catarina, where she began her artistic studies. In 2012 she moved to Rio de Janeiro where she wrote her first play and worked as an actor and assistant director at Cia ACENA, also winning her first prize as an actor/writer. In 2015, Bruna joined the cast of Cia Arte Nova and learnt to become a producer, a role which became her profession. Bruna has already produced three shows and is currently preparing to perform in her next play.

Magdalena Vianna

Magdalena is the daughter of artists, and has grown up in the theatre. She works with a theatre group that reinterprets Shakespeare for children and adults, and is studying Cultural Production and Performing Arts at university.