Gemma Lloyd, Founder, Owner and Creative Producer
My love of the arts was fostered through seven years at art school which included studying for a degree in Ceramics at Camberwell Art School. Combining my interests in art, film and television, I studied for an MA at Kingston University in Film and Television Design. After working in the film industry for a couple of years, in 1999 I founded act up. I have always passionately advocated for the arts to be open and accessible for everyone. act up’s working ethos has and will always be focused on enabling the many. By extension, this has been my long-standing vision for the other businesses I co-own and collaborate with.
I have connected with key charities such as Barnardos and St. Mungo’s working with them on a range of projects. I have collaborated with drama schools since 2005 to develop outreach programmes and support aspiring actors. My extensive experience in the arts and creative industries has seen me work in many roles; as a producer, casting agent and formerly as an acting agent of a successful boutique agency for over five years. I am at my best when I am working on many projects and multitasking.
Alongside act up, I co-founded and co-run Love Art and Meet & Make. Love Art is a perfectly formed gift shop and gallery in Tooting Market that hosts art classes for children and adults. Meet & Make is a social enterprise hosting workshops and meet-ups in creative spaces for the community in Tooting. In 2020, Meet & Make organised ‘A big fun day out, stays in’ to connect with the wider community. When I’m not pushing for the arts to be more accessible to everyone you can find me pushing a tyre around at Crossfit or attempting couch to 5k run. I have a flair for jewellery making, drawing and creating prints in my spare time. I enjoy meeting up with friends and also escaping for long walks with my partner and two brilliant children.
Laura Carey, Creative Content Partner
As a child I loved art, drama and singing and anything that allowed me to express myself creatively. This passion continued into my adult life and I knew I wanted to pursue a career within the performing arts; specifically acting. I read English and Drama at UWE and continued my professional training afterwards as I am a firm believer in continually learning and developing my craft.
I have a broad spectrum of skills and interests which often lead me to work in diverse environments but always with a focus on people and communication.
I’m an actor, co-producer, private tutor and sports massage therapist at a leading drama school. Whilst acting I have had the opportunity to work with Historic Royal Palaces, Young Vic and Tesco. I co-hosted and produced a radio show for OnFM, which combined my voice over skills and desire to work with the local community. My ability to support and forge connections with people and communities, whether through storytelling and acting or coaching as a private tutor, is one of my greatest strengths. I am driven to help enrich other people’s experiences through the arts and bolster their confidence. In my spare time I like going to yoga, playing the ukulele and spending time with my other half and our dog.
Gemma Lloyd and Laura Carey on collaborating together
We have worked as producers together for theatre projects including new writing, plays and contemporary dance. We have proudly worked with inspiring companies and both emerging and established artists.
Our working relationship was forged intially by our love of the arts and its power, our mutual appreciation of graphic novels, and the fact that we can have multiple conversations at the same time and never lose each other.
Do get in touch if you have any questions.
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Neal Craig
Neal is an actor, comedian and writer with over 12 years experience in the industry. He trained at Manchester School of Theatre (MMU) and has since worked for companies including The National Theatre, Bristol Old Vic, Storyhouse Theatre, Derby Theatre and Salisbury Playhouse. He has also appeared in Coronation Street, A Girls Guide To Depravity (HBO), National Geographic’s ‘Raving Arizona’ and Emmerdale, as recurring character ‘PC Terry Warren’.
As comedian, he performs regularly around the country and came second at The Wanstead Fringe New Comedy Act competition in 2019.
As a writer, he currently has two plays in development and he also writes and performs in new online comedy series ‘Fingers For Fish’.
Clare Fraenkel
I studied English at Bristol University, then trained as an actor at Drama Studio London. My speciality is theatre, especially new writing/originating new work, and also theatre for children and young people. I’ve also performed in many shows as a puppeteer.
Theatre includes: Lundenwic (Clio’s Company), Hansel and Gretel (Scratchbuilt/Proteus), Chester Tuffnut (Gomito/Polka Theatre)* Offie Award Nominated, Against Democracy (Arcola Theatre), Too Many Penguins (Frozen Charlotte/Polka Theatre) The Ones Who Kill Shooting Stars (Three Streets Productions), The Girl with The Iron Claws (The Wrong Crowd/Soho Theatre) *Total Theatre Award Nominated, The Wolves of Willoughby Chase (Forest Forge/Nuffield Theatre), Rough Music (Kings Head Theatre), The Borrowers (Haymarket Basingstoke), The Rivals (Theatre Royal Bath), A Mad Hatter’s Tea Party, The Importance of Being Earnest, and The Taming of the Shrew (all Oxford Shakespeare Company).
Outside of theatre, I’ve worked on screen – most recently 2019’s ‘Love Stories’ for Netflix – and also as a voice artist and motion capture performer. My character Tessa Bannister on the video game Star Citizen is a cult fan favourite! And you can catch some of my audio book narration on Audible.
Niamh McGowan
Niamh is a Belfast born actor who graduated from the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama in 2012 on the Acting with Collaborative and Devised Theatre course. She has worked in several touring productions around the UK which included work as both an actor musician and a deviser, and has worked several times at the National Theatre since graduating.
She has screen experience as an actor and also a presenter for BBC Bitesize in their online educational films.
As well as following an acting career, Niamh has worked as a freelancer teaching young people public speaking and acting skills. She is a strong advocate for adult learning and loves to work with people from all walks of life.
Michael Grady-Hall
Michael trained at RADA. Theatre credits include: Venice Preserved, Imperium I&II, Oppenheimer, The Shoemakers Holiday, As You Like It, Hamlet, All’s Well That Ends Well, Midsummer Nights Dream, Cardenio, The City Madam (RSC), Damned by Despair, Antigone, The White Guard, Burnt by the Sun (National), Othello (ETT Dubai), Julie (Northern Stage), Minotaur (Polka Theatre/Theatre Clwyd), Thyestes (Arcola), Romeo and Juliet (Theatre of Memory), one-man show Later Showers, Play On Words (Three’s Company/Edinburgh Fringe).
He also has various screen and audio credits including Casualty, Doctors, Clash of the Titans, Jack Ryan, and the new podcast Three’s Company’s Adventure Department.
Michael is an Education Practitioner with the RSC, leads workshops for West End in Schools and also works as a private drama tutor.
He is co-founder of Three’s Company and Smooth Faced Gentlemen for whom he has directed various projects.
michaelgradyhall.com
Antonia Salib
Antonia Salib is an actor, acting coach and workshop facilitator.
She is currently in The Play That Goes Wrong on the West End and is a graduate of the Oxford School of Drama.
She completed the National Theatre Workshop Facilitation course and teaches acting online.
Her credits include Black Ice (Theatre503), Shudder (Soho Theatre), Know You Well (Southwark Playhouse) and The President’s Men (Tristan Bates Theatre).
Jonathan Humphreys
Currently, he is Artistic Director of Attic where he has commissioned, directed and produced work by writers including Roy Williams, Chris Bush, Beth Flintoff, Stephen Sharkey and Jeremiah ‘Sugar J’ Brown. From 2016-2018, Jonathan was Associate Connections Director for the National Theatre Connections programme. He trained at Drama Centre London before working as an assistant director at the National Theatre and RSC. He was awarded the Regional Young Theatre Director bursary in 2010 to Sheffield Theatres where his production of Beckett’s Happy Days won a TMA award.
His recent productions include: The Last Noël (Attic/Arts at the Old Fire Station); The Rebellious Women of Wimbleon (Attic); The Rivals (Watermill Theatre); The Death of Ivan Ilyich (Attic); The Mighty Walzer (Manchester Royal Exchange); Romeo and Juliet, Boeing Boeing, The Village Bike (Sheffield Theatres); The Circus (Invisible Dot); The Hotel Plays (Defibrillator); Krapp’s Last Tape, Spoonface Steinberg (Hull Truck); Mojo Mickybo (Trafalgar Studios); Moscow Live (Hightide).
His first short film, The Send Off, was commissioned by BBC and has played at festivals internationally. He works as a visiting director and teacher for many leading drama schools as tutor for Open Door, which helps young people from economically disadvantaged background to access leading drama schools. Jonathan is a Trustee of Proteus and was previously a board member of Stage Directors UK as well as representing directors on Equity’s Directors and Designers Committee. www.jonathanhumphreys.com
Annice Boparai
Annice trained at the Oxford School of Drama graduating in 2017.
Since then she has worked professionally in Film, TV and Stage, including the multi award winning play ‘Trojan Horse’ at Summerhall and ‘J’Ouvert’ at Theatre 503.
Annice originally participated in act up’s workshops herself before getting into drama school and is very excited to be a part of the family.
Joseph Adelakun
Joseph is a graduate of Rose Bruford College.
Theatre credits include: The Winter’s Tale, Comedy Of Errors (National Theatre), Julius Caesar, Antony and Cleopatra, Titus Andronicus (RSC), Richard II (Arcola Theatre), What The Thunder Said (Theatre Centre), Boi Boi Is Dead (West Yorkshire Playhouse, Watford Palace Theatre), Back To The Future (Secret Cinema), In the Jungle of the Cities (Arcola Theatre), Whole (20 Stories High), Run! A Sports Day Musical (Polka Theatre).
Screen credits include: Pokémon: Detective Pikachu (Legendary Entertainment), The Mime, Love Bitten (Dan Allen Films), Rosemary Jane (London Film School) and Little Big Planet PS Vita (Sony). Audio credits include: University Of Bradford Applied AI (Studio Hansa), Radio Elusia (Boundless Theatre)
Fergus Leathem
As an actor, Fergus has appeared in the global smash hit ‘Game of Thrones’, on BBC Radio 4 and in theatre in London and around the UK.
Alongside his career as an actor, Fergus works extensively in the business world, focusing on helping people from executives to apprentices improve their communication and leadership skills. He also teaches individual clients and leads workshops for drama school students on ‘How to be a corporate actor’. He’s delighted to work with act up and looks forward to helping budding young performers and seasoned pros alike hone their skills and have some fun along the way.
Rebecca Newman
Rebecca is an actress and writer, trained at The Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama and graduated in 2012.
Some of her credits include: Ally Hunter in ‘Casualty’ (BBC), Jane in ‘The Diary of Samuel Pepys’ (BBC Radio 4), Wendy in ‘Peter Pan’ (Sherman Cymru), Young Carrie Fisher in ‘The Last Hours of Carrie Fisher’ (ITV/Potato Productions), Kat in ‘Burning Books’ (Leicester Curve), Girl in ‘We’re Going on a Bear Hunt’ (Kenny Wax Family Entertainment) and most recently Mouse in ‘The Gruffalo’ (Tall Stories/Kenny Wax Family Entertainment). She spent the last two summers on the West End at The Lyric Theatre with both ‘We’re Going on a Bear Hunt’ and ‘The Gruffalo’ respectively.
She also writes the plays for a German based theatre company that are designed to encourage young people to engage with language and theatre.
Laura Horton
Laura is a writer and publicist. Plays include: Giddy Tuppy, The Space; Bloody Men, Arcola Theatre as part of Miniaturists; A Summer of Birds, Plymouth Fringe; This I Believe, Theatre Royal Plymouth and Exeter Phoenix as part of Astor100. Her play Hidden by Things will be re-staged for a reading as part of Morgan and Abi’s Power Share. Laura ran Write Away, a ten-week course for new playwrights for two years, producing productions of the plays at White Bear and Teahouse Theatre. She has completed Soho Writer’s Lab, London Playwriting Lab and Morley College. Laura is currently running a creative campaign, Theatre Stories, to amplify un-heard voices. She has written journalistically for The Guardian, The i and Huffington Post. As a publicist she has worked for theatres including: National Theatre; Edinburgh Festival; The Yard.
