Gemma Woffinden

Drama Coach @Opera North

Leeds, GB

I believe that if we are to make high quality theatre that authentically responds to the lives of young people, we must understand the time and care it takes to cultivating inclusive and accessible engagement processes and creative spaces. I work with text and themes that sparks debate, encourage empathy and challenges assumptions. I want to support young people, early career artists and facilitators by signposting them to range of creative pathways to help demystifying the theatre industry and open it up to underrepresented future artists. In 2017 I was Awarded Yorkshire Evening Post Mental Health Champion for partnership projects with Mind Mate, CAMHS, Gendered Intelligence, the NHS and Barnardo’s. In 2018 the team I lead where recognised by the Alzheimer’s Society as a finalist for the Dementia Friendly Awards 2018 for work with young and older people.

University of Leeds

PGCE in Secondary Drama - Bretton Hall

The Royal Central School of Speech and Drama

PG Cert in Directing Text (with Distinction)

The University of Manchester

MA in Applied Theatre (Distinction) , MA in Applied Theatre

University of Leeds

BA (Hons) Arts and Education (Drama) - Bretton Hall