Elinor is Artistic Director and co-founder of Tmesis & Physical Fest. She has performed in or directed, all of Tmesis Theatre’s past productions, touring nationally and internationally for the past 18 years, receiving critical acclaim for the work and development of physical theatre through the international festival, Physical Fest.

Elinor also works as a Director or Movement Director for many companies and artists nationally and internationally, including, English Touring Theatre, Leeds Playhouse, 20 Stories High, Box of Tricks, Lizzie Nunnery, Peepolykus, Fadunito, Rowena Gander,  Surge Festival and the Everyman and Playhouse. Her short film Betty & Jean was shortlisted for the Iris Prize and has been on Channel 4 as well as shown at 6 international film festivals.

Elinor is also Artistic Director for Liverpool’s Unity Theatre

www.elinorrandle.com

SealSkin was originally produced by Claire Bigley and premiered at the Liverpool Everyman in June 2023. It is now produced by the company and is touring nationally and internationally in Autumn 24 and Spring 2025.

We work with a diverse variety of freelance performers for our productions. If you are interested in auditioning for Tmesis, sign up to our mailing list here!

Mariana is a Portuguese actress and theatre maker based in Liverpool. She’s passionate about working in physical theatre, clown and film. She’s an ESMAE (PT) graduated in Acting and studied Musical Theatre at the Royal Conservatory of Brussels as an Erasmus student.

Since she was 15, Mariana has been performing across Europe, collaborating with directors such as Elinor Randle (UK), Jeroen Maes (Belgium), Moncho Rodriguez (Spain), Nuno Cardoso (PT) and Radar 360 (PT). She has experience in musical theatre, street theatre, puppet theatre and Theatre in Education and was part of the Tmesis Training Company. Mariana also creates her own original devised work that explores contemporary issues.

Mariana performed in Wicked Women, Memoria , Up and Away and SealSkin for Tmesis Theatre.

Valentine Onogu is a talented creative professional from Kogi State, Nigeria, now based in Liverpool. With a  track record in design for both stage and screen, Valentine has consistently demonstrated his innovative approach to storytelling. His recent work, “The Story of Us,” a web series set to premiere on YouTube produced by VO studios, highlights his dynamic ability to engage audiences through compelling narratives. His pursuit for knowledge led him to the UK, where he earned an MA in Drama.

We are excited to introduce Valentine Onogu as a new cast member for Sealskin Production.

Noel is a seasoned professional with over 30 years of experience in Creative Technology and artistic sound design. As a New Media Artist, he has made significant contributions to various sectors, including Higher Education, professional engagements, and community-based projects. Noel’s work is marked by collaborative and interdisciplinary projects, resulting in innovative art forms and exhibited works.

Over the past 15 years, Noel has focused on collaborations with choreographers and dance artists, specialising in the development of immersive production experiences. He has developed a keen interest in the creative applications of artificial intelligence in video and image creation and continues to inspire and innovate in the field of Creative Technology and sound design.

www.i-d-e-a.co.uk

meanddeboe.com

Joey is ecstatic to be returning with the SealSkin team! Originally from the States, they are a recent graduate from the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts (LIPA). He has a certificate in Directing for the Theatre from RADA Short Courses and a passion for amplifying LGBTQ+ stories.

Previous Assistant Director credits: Philippa Gregory’s Richard,My Richard (Shakespeare North Playhouse/Theatre Royal Bury St. Edmunds, dir. Katie Posner), Rock ’N’ Roll Cinderella Panto by Luke Barnes (Liverpool Everyman and Playhouse, dir. James Baker), Masquerade (Epstein Theatre/Bill Elms Production, dir James Baker).

Originally from Spain, Samuel Duran is a freelance performer whose career started with the company La Tourne Teatro while studying drama at ESAD in Valencia. He toured around Spain with this company for five years before moving to the UK permanently. Samuel then began working as an emerging artist for Hope Street Limited, which opened the doors to the industry in Liverpool. Specialised in physical theatre with a mixed background in acting, dance and acrobatics, Samuel has worked with Hope Street Limited, Action Transport Theatre, Tmesis Theatre and Theatre Temoin in the UK and with Brouhaha in Cuba. Sam has performed in ‘Memoria’ Up and Away and SealSkin for Tmesis Theatre.

Chris has worked with Tmesis for more than a decade, co-writing five nationally touring productions. Other credits include work for Channel 4, Fuel Theatre, Slung Low, China Plate, and Litfest. He is published by Nick Hern. He is also Director of Theatre in the Rough, and a reader for Playwrights’ Studio Scotland. He is currently researching post-Holocene theatre and eco-dramaturgies. 

www.chrisfittock.co.uk

Phil has worked as a lighting designer and technical manager in small scale theatre, dance, physical theatre and site specific work for many years. He was Technical Manager at Unity Theatre, Liverpool for over 29 years, until the COVID 19 pandemic.

Recent designs include: Barely Visible with Rowena Gander, Star Of Wonder with Theatre Porto and Teatro Pomodoro, Deep Blue with Paperwork Theatre,The Long Way Home with Ben Phillips, Peep Show – Battle Royale with Teatro Pomodoro, When Another Dragon Roars with Altered Scale Theatre and Petite Ullaloom, The Spine with Nathan Powell and 20 Stories High.

Meike Holzmann is a freelance musician, composer, tutor, facilitator and musical director, writing and producing music for theatre, dance and film in UK, Germany, South Africa and France since graduating with a degree in music at LIPA in 2001. She is also a songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, performing and recording piano, bass, percussions, guitar and vocals with bands in UK and Germany since 1990. Highlights of her work as a composer include a collaboration with award winning South African choreographer Sbonakaliso Ndaba and Indoni Dance, Arts and Leadership Academy in Cape Town for the show “Ukwakha” in 2016, supported by Arts Council England’s Artist International Development Fund, and the commission of five movements for string quartet “Heart Variations”, performed by the acclaimed Liverpool String Quartet across the North West of England in 2014.

Meike has worked with Tmesis Theatre on Wolf Red, Variations of the Heart, That’s Amore, Happy Hour, Beyond Belief, Walking Upright and Wicked Women.

www.meike.works

Originally from Greece, Eleni trained at Laban (MA in European Dance Theatre Practice) she also has a BA in Dance and Live Art and a Foundation in Circus Arts. Eleni is a freelance performer, teacher and choreographer. She has collaborated and performed internationally with choreographers such as Tmesis Theatre (UK), Company Victoria (Belgium), Interkunst (Germany), Marie-Gabrielle Rotie (UK), Blue Eyed Soul Dance Company (UK), Protein Dance (UK), Retina Dance (Belgium) and has performed for the Olympic and Paralympics Ceremonies in Athens 2004 and London 2012 amongst others. Eleni is the Co – Artistic director for Levantes Dance Theatre which is recognisable for its quirky visual style of work. Eleni has performed in Variations of the Heart, That’s Amore, Happy Hour, Beyond Belief & Memoria for Tmesis Theatre.

www.levantesdancetheatre.org

Stephanie is a Set and Costume Designer based in the north west. She graduated from LIPA 2016, with a 1st Class Honours Degree in Theatre and Performance Design. Stephanie aspires to create visually absorbing designs to draw the audience into the narrative, by complimenting and challenging the perceptions of storytelling. Her recent design credits include: Daydream Believers (Tmesis Training Company), Walking Upright, Beyond Belief, Wicked Women & Memoria (Tmesis Theatre), The God Delusion (The Blue Box Theatre), Dark Night Ends (Liverpool Tour) and as an assistant designer for Party Skills for the End of the World (Manchester International Festival).

www.stephanieoharadesign.co.uk

Jennifer is a performer, choreographer and Senior Lecturer in Dance and Performing Arts at Teesside University.  Originally from Canada, she performed with Winnipeg’s Contemporary Dancers for five years, touring across North America.   Since moving to the UK nine years ago, Jennifer has worked with choreographers of international acclaim, including Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui, Gary Clarke, Rosie Kay, and Liam Steel.  She danced in Joe Wright’s Anna Karenina and Tom Hooper’s Les Miserables.  Jen is also co-director of Fully Booked Theatre who create interactive dance theatre performance for children.  Jen has performed in That’s Amore, Happy Hour, Beyond Belief & Memoria for Tmesis Theatre.

www.jenniferessex.com

Ngunan is an incredible and inspiring patron for Tmesis, especially her work championing young women through her company I Woman Media. She is a renowned journalist and presenter as well as an entrepreneur and cultural change strategist. We are proud to have Ngunan as a patron.

Charles Sandford is a London born visual artist and performer, his artistic journey began at Kingston University in 2007 where he studied Fine Art and began developing a practice that combines sculpture, performance, and film. After practicing as an artist and exhibiting nationally Charles took his Masters at The Royal Academy of Dramatic Art. Since graduating from RADA in 2015 he joined Animikii for their production of ‘Origins’, Took the title role in Luvas Theatre’s ‘Titus Andronicus’, performed with artists Lucy Beech & Edward Thomasson at Tate Britain and is developing new theatrical works with Theatre Re, Edens Cave and Volya Theatre. Charles has performed in Walking Upright and Beyond Belief for Tmesis.

www.charlessandford.com

We are proud to be overseen by a very experienced and talented board of directors: Peter Flaherty (Innovate UK), Mike Furniss (Project/Programme Manager), Sarah Lovell (Lead Officer – Culture Co-ordinator, Liverpool City Region Combined Authority), Sarah Ogle (Marketing & Communications Director at Liverpool Everyman & Playhouse Theatres),  and Claire Beerajaz (Creative Children’s Psychological Therapist/ Artist)