Dawn Parsons is director of Theatre Company, "Theatre of Inspirations"; she studied Drama at the University of Bristol, holds postgraduate qualifications in Arts Education from Bretton Hall, University of Leeds, and is an experienced teacher of English and Drama.  She  currently works at Lister as Community Performing Arts Programme Manager and has put this project together to engage Lister students with the local community and vice versa in a way which will hopefully be formative and informative, and most of all, fun. 

Dvora Liberman is a playwright, theatre director, storyteller and arts educator. She is currently performing with Lone Twin Theatre, writing and devising a play with Harlequin Youth Theatre commissioned by the Foundling Museum, and a drama facilitator with Polka Theatre. Dvora was writer and director of the Babies Proms music theatre shows for families at the Sydney Opera House (2006-2008). She was Artistic Director of the Aboriginal Life Story Project which involved writing and directing theatre, and publishing books, based on the life stories of Aboriginal Elders (2006-2008), and Artistic Director of Once Upon a Lifetime… which created intergenerational theatre pieces inspired by the memories of older people in Sydney’s inner city (2005-2006). Commissioned by Amnesty International (2006), Dvora wrote FLY20, a play based on interviews with refugees and asylum seekers. Other plays include Light Years, Baby Dove, and Mozart Boy Genius. Dvora has undertaken residencies with renowned theatre companies, The Culture Project in New York City (2007) and Gruppe 38 in Denmark (2008). Dvora has performed in arts centres, schools, libraries, community and aged care centres and festivals. She has taught drama and creative dance to people of all ages in Europe, India and Australia. Dvora trained at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art LAMDA, and The School of Storytelling. Dvora is a qualified yoga teacher, journalist and primary and secondary school teacher, and she is completing a Masters Degree in Oral History and Life Writing at the University of Sussex.

Paul Andrew is a graduating Actor/Facilitator studying at East 15 Acting School for a BA Hons in Community Theatre. Using his skills and experience in Puppetry, Circus, Clown and Storytelling Paul has taken part in various performances and workshops including 'Real Britain' a celebration of different cultures within Britain, ‘Pandemonium’ a performance of all different shows in Southend High Street which included circus, clown, invisible theatre, street theatre and samba, ‘Going Home on the Milk Float’ a reminiscence piece which focus on the people living and coming from Southend; ‘Urchins’ a sight specific performance piece on the young children coming to Epping Forest from the East End and 'Creating Music with Young Offenders' with Theatre Resource.  He was a Work Placement Student at Lister last year, and was simply so good they keep asking him back.  For the past year he has worked on  Saturday Arts School giving workshops in Drama, Circus and Puppetry.

Beth Taylor (Work Placement Student)  is currently in her second year at East 15 Acting School, studying Community Theatre where she has acquired the following skills; puppetry, circus and stage combat.  She has worked as a workshop facilitator on both Reminiscence projects and in Theatre in Education.  Before starting at East 15 she played the part of Helena in A Midsummer Night’s Dream as part of the Edinburgh Fringe Festival with Dangnabbit Theatre Company.  Beth wanted to be involved with the administrational part of this project.

Sinead Hanafin (Work Placement Student) is currently coming to the end of her three year course in Theatre Studies at the University of East London and will be continuing her studies in order to become a Drama teacher. For the past three months she has been working closely with the ‘Helen O’Grady Drama Academy’, working with children from the age of 9-11. Through shadowing experienced drama teachers who work for the academy she has taken on board their teaching techniques, which has resulted in her being able to introduce exciting new warm up games and exercises to the children participating in this project ‘Pastimes’.  Sinead is very excited to be able to use her skills and gain new skills from the practitioners she has been working closely with.

Alys Watson (Work Placement Student) is a graduating student in International Theatre Studies from the University of East London. Through her course she has built her skills in intracultural theatre as well as her acting skills. Her career ambitions are to complete her PGCE and become a secondary level teacher of English and Drama. She joined the project to gain experience in working with children and build her facilitating skills.

Ethan Rigby (Volunteer) is a graduating Actor/Facilitator studying at East 15 Acting School for a BA Hons in Community Theatre.  Ethan has worked for companies such as GLYPT, Theatre of Inspirations and Theatre Resource.  Ethan has worked at Lister as an Assistant Practitioner in Puppetry for the Newham Summer School and as a Workshop Facilitator in Circus, Street Dance, Puppetry and Acting for Saturday Arts School.  He has a particular interest in intergenerational work and has volunteered to give up his holiday time to come and lend his considerable talents to this project.   Thank you so much, it is much appreciated!!! By all!!!