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About SPID Theatre
MISSION STATEMENT
SPID Theatre makes art that advocates housing justice. Our high quality youth theatre takes place on council estates. We use theatre, film and radio to call for investment in social housings’ heritage and in young peoples’ future. We mix verbatim testimonies with scripted dialogue to celebrate and champion estates’ history, community and spirit.
Past and Future
After 16 years of advocacy, we have finally raised £2.6m to restore our stage and hall, install a lift and sloping corridor, and scale up our free activities.
But RBKC’s negligence is risking this unprecedented council estate community investment. SPID worked with residents to create The History of Neglect Part II. The film turns the spotlight on Kensal’s ancient blocked stack pipes and drains filled with rats and debris. Exposing the historic estate’s chronic sewage water floods inspired public funders to join SPID and residents in pressuring the council to act. As a result, RBKC have rehoused two of the flooded families and are fixing Kensal’s leaks and floods. Sign the petition to ensure the landlord SPID shares with Grenfell finally fulfils their statutory duty.
MEET THE TEAM
Meet the amazing team members that make SPID what it is.
Helena Thompson
Artistic Director
Helena founded SPID in 2005 when the Residents Association invited her to run Kensal House Community Rooms, which was on Historic England's Buildings at Risk register, and has long suffered neglect, leaks and floods. She has since used her script writing commissions from Radio 4, the Bush and the National to advocate investment in social housing through plays like The Burning Tower and Smile!, both published by Methuen
Nnenna Samson
Head of youth and community programs
Nnenna is Head of Youth & Community Programs at Spid.
She created the living heritage programs and co produced it. Nnenna has continued to lead and write youth theatre and heritage projects for SPID. The F.F.A & Kensal Voices program, Trellick Tales, Reimagining Goldfinger, Game Changer, A Place for People and The Dream.
Nnenna directed Face by Benjamin Zephaniah, written, directed and produced 23176 Passerby and Team Spirit. She has consulted on the National Youth Theatre “Playing up Program” and has work credits with Talawa Theatre and the National Theatre Connection Youth Festival. Nnenna is passionate about empowering communities with theatre projects develop around shared spaces & experiences.
Eeshita Azad
Production, Outreach and Marketing Manager
Eeshita Azad is a community arts activist, a poet and an arts management consultant with a career spanning over 15 years. Some of the places she has worked previously: BBC Media Action, British Council, Asia Foundation, Future Arts Centres. As a British-Bangladeshi woman growing up in London in the 90s, she feels strongly about social justice, diversity and inclusion. Currently Eeshita leads British Bilingual Poetry Collective based in East London, mentor for Middlesex University and Exceptional Individuals, an organisation that helps neurodiverse young adults to employment.
Rosie Hull
Community Outreach Arts Producer
Rosie is a spoken word artist and theatre-maker who has predominately worked and studied in drama and applied theatre settings. Community engagement within the arts is particularly
important to her and is inspired by the people she connects with, often drawing on these encounters and experiences in her own writing. She is a strong believer that art and community go hand in hand, one will not survive without the other. Rosie has co-produced and written for
her first spoken-word film ‘(C)harm(h)er’ which is set to be released in September 2022. In her
spare time Rosie writes for grief and bereavement support forums.
Sean Cleary
Community Project Coordinator
Sean is a writer and editor who has lived in social housing in Ladbroke Grove for 38 years. Passionate about the art of storytelling, the empowerment of self expression and working with local young people in the area, Sean enjoys having the platform to do this at SPID.
Tomassina Hessel
Youth, Outreach and Marketing Officer
Tomassina is a North Kensington social housing tenant, a proud mother and is passionate about
getting children and young people active in their community. Specialising in networking and
marketing, she seeks to connect with local families and get them involved in the creative and
expressive projects that SPID Theatre provides.
Melissa Lozano
Tech and Design Officer
Melissa has a background in Visual Arts and obtained a Masters degree in Moving Image. Her work primarily focuses on the local community. She is mostly involved in education and developing workshops using the expertise of other profesionales when required. Melissa has great interest in developing studies, concentrating on graphic urban design, taking into account environmental issues, and visual anthropology. Her work also involves artistic intervention in heritage buildings.
Mahari Sterling
Ashley Mpanzu
Ashley is an aspiring actor, writer and he enjoys creating his own films and social media content. He is also an Estate Ends alumni, a 12 week SPID's programme for 13 to 25 year olds. He is passionate about Performing Arts and loves to express his talent through screen acting. Ashley loves being part of the SPID team and very committed to the company's ethos.
Ivor Flint
Chair of SPID Theatre,
Kensal resident
Ivor Flint is a resident of Kensal House and chaired the Residents Association he invited SPID to run their community rooms in 2005 – because SPID met the aspirations of Kensal House and shared in the vision of reviving our much neglected theatre and community space.
Naomi Israel
Co Chair
SPID Trustee and Youth Ambassador, North Kensington resident
Naomi Israel is a North Kensington residents who grew up attending SPID’s free youth program before becoming a Youth Ambassador for the charity – because at a time when so many youth centres are closing, young people cannot do without SPID.
Sophia Ollivierre
Vice Chair
Sophia's son attends SPID’s Far Far Away and took part in Step Up, SPID's professional program. Sophia’s work involves managing repairs for estates. She has first hand experience of advocating justice. She and her son were displaced by Grenfell, and live in social housing.
Kai Gama
Associate Artist
Kai runs Dare Arts Society, a valued SPID partner. He co produced SPID's radio play, The Dream. Kai has a background in music, film and theatre, and continues to record and produce short films for his band The Insomniax. Kai's spent most of his formative years living in social housing leading to him being passionate about providing positive experiences and opportunities to the community.
kai@dareartssociety.com
Sammy Campbell
Yoga
Sammy has run SPID’s free yoga classes for more than 10 years. He specialises in using breathing and exercise to reduce stress .
Mickell Lemard
Qi Gong and Gong Fu
Mickell has run SPID’s free Gong Fu classes since 2012, improving poise, stamina and strength with martial arts techniques.
ielboxing@hotmail.co.uk