TEAM
Michelle Payne- Artistic Director
Michelle is a director and playwright from Essex and a 2019 recipient of the Regional Theatre Young Director Scheme working on a three month placement with the Mercury Theatre Colchester. Here she assisted Ryan McBryde on Cinderella and became one of 15 Mercury Playwrights 2020/21.
Michelle has recently been working with Sacha Wares & the Donmar Warehouse on Future Forms of theatre. Following from this Michelle received a micro-commission from her local theatre Queens Theatre Hornchurch to further her training in writing for virtual reality.
Her first play, Orchid, won two awards at its first outing at the Moors Theatre (Camden Fringe) in 2015 - Best New Writing & Best Actress: Michelle Payne.
Michelle has written and directed a number of projects at Edinburgh, Camden & Brighton Fringe Festivals as well as at VAULT festival. She won Best in Fringe for her play Full Circle about mental health at the Brewery Fringe Festival in 2018.
Michelle is also an acting tutor for the West End Kids company where she originally trained as a teenager and also for Damien Poole Theatre Arts.
Recent Directing Credits:
THE LIBERATORS (&writer) - PPA Acting for Stage& Screen - 2021
MY THREE SISTERS by Holly Rose Hawgood R&D - The Bush - 2021
SQUAD GOALS: The Immersive Play (co-dir w/ Mia Jerome, &writer) - Dagenham & Redbridge FC - 2020
FIND ME by No Fixed Address - VAULT Festival - 2020
Further Credits:
MEMORY BOX (writer) - Online, Winner: Mercury Monologues - 2020
SAD ABOUT THE COWS (writer&actor) - Tristan Bates Theatre - 2019
Richard Swann - Creative Producer
Richard is a graduate of Bird College having trained in acting and theatre performance; originally from Huddersfield West Yorkshire, he has made London his home. He began his producing career for the theatre company NQ Theatricals in 2015 and worked on their debut production The Sisterhood by Ranjit Bolt at London’s Leicester Square Theatre.
Richard has worked as Associate Producer on a freelance basis at Caspa Arts since 2016 and is pleased to be working with the team again as Creative Producer at Savi. He is passionate about supporting Michelle’s artistic vision in bringing underrepresented voices to the stage.
As Producer: The Sisterhood (Leicester Square Theatre), People Around Us (Film), Drafts (Stage), My Town (Web Series)
Charlotte Payne - Course Leader
Training: Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts (BA Musical Theatre) & CBS dance.
Charlotte is a musical theatre actor and vocal coach from Essex. She began performing with the West End Kids at prestigious events such as West End Live & Move It and at venues such as the Royal Albert Hall and the O2 arena.
Recent credits:
POTTED PANTO - Garrick Theatre West End & Southwark Playhouse - 2019/20
SQUAD GOALS - Dagenham and Redbridge FC - 2020
THE PIRATE QUEEN - London Coliseum, West End -2020
RYCA: REFRESH (Soloist) - Live @ Zedel - 2019
Charlotte was also a lead singer for Norwegian Cruise Line 2017-2019
Recording Credits:
FLIGHT OF PASSAGE & NA'VI RIVER JOURNEY - Walt Disney World
HOODS: A MUSICAL by Drew Jaymeson and Kevan Frost
SHOOT...BANG! by John Victor (in association with Perfect Pitch)
Press:
"Scrappy Doo, brilliantly pitched in this performance by Charlotte Payne" - The Stage.
Charlotte is also a professional vocal coach who completed her training with the Martin Williams Vocal Studio & is currently supported by the Queens Theatre Hornchurch new frontiers micro-commission scheme. She currently teaches private clients and for the West End Kids Vocal Studio.