Sara Allkins
email: sara@pinkhedgehog.org
Academic Qualifications
BA Hons Degree Politics and English York University 1986
Btec National Diploma Performing Arts Thomas Danby College 1996
Masters Degree Theatre Studies Leeds University 1997
Employment
Freelance Drama Practitioner Scunthorpe YouthTheatre 1997-1999
Sessional Drama Worker Leeds City Council 2000-2011
Freelance Drama Practitioner Lincoln Green Youth Theatre 2001-2003
Actor West Yorkshire Playhouse Schools Company 2002
Volunteer Coordinator West Yorkshire Youth Assoc. 2003-2009
Freelance Drama Practitioner Leeds City Art Gallery 2007
Artist/Storyteller I Love West Leeds Festival 2007-2013
Actor/Deviser Pacitti Company @LBT 2008
Director Life Act Open Minds Theatre Company 2009-2011
Youth Theatre Director Youth Theatres Leeds 2009-2019
Activities Coordinator Caring Together 2011-2014
Coordinator Day Service Kirkgate Centre 2014-2015
Performer/Collaborator Transform 15 West Yorkshire Playhouse 2015
Actor/Director- I do Like to be Beside the Seacroft West Yorkshire Playhouse 2018
Coordinator Cara Project Leeds Irish Health and Homes 2015-2018
Drama & Performance Workshop Leader Garvald Edinburgh 2018-2021
Artist / Art Development with North Lanarkshire Council 2021-Ongoing
I work with Communities, Children and Young People in both formal and informal education settings. I use drama and storytelling techniques to explore issues and subject areas to increase participant’s understanding and interest. I design and deliver bespoke drama sessions either as a one off ‘kickstart’ to a scheme of work or as an integral part of an ongoing project.
I delivered Youth Theatre Sessions weekly in Leeds and Fife and have coordinated and directed productions in community venues, Leeds City Varieties and the West Yorkshire Playhouse.
For 14 years I delivered weekly drama sessions for Leeds Adult Services in two centres for Adults with physical and sensory disabilities, creating shows and performing at the centres and theatre venues.
I work with volunteers to design training plans to meet their needs and those of the project in hand. I recruit, support and organise volunteers to enable the realisation of community projects.
I organise, design and disperse publicity materials to recruit participants and advertise events. I am used to liaising across statutory, voluntary and community sectors in order to set up tours, shows and workshop events. I source venues; artists and funding in collaboration with group members to develop their skills for performance and for life.
I delivered a series of lectures at Leeds Metropolitan University on Youth Theatre as part of their BA course in Youth And Community Work. This involved coordinating a reading list and assignments and delivering practical sessions in drama.
I was the Director of Life Act for Open Minds Theatre Company in Rotherham; Life Act is the performing company for Adults with Learning Disabilities. I trained volunteers with learning disabilities to facilitate sessions and support the actors. I also ran the community choir for families there.
My work as a writer and performer has been produced with the West Yorkshire Playhouse Touring Company and has been presented as part of Degenerate II, the disability arts festival in Edinburgh.
I believe passionately in the power of the arts to enable change in both communities and individuals; my work as a practitioner and project manager reflects and informs this passion.
Other
- Clean Full Driving License/Accessible Minibus trained. Own car
- Current PVG
- First Aid Trained
- Bronze Arts Award Advisor
- Excel Spreadsheet trained
- Microsoft and Mac OSX
- Public Liability Insurance £10 million
- Lead Singer ‘Les Vegas and the International Playboys of Rhythm’ 10 piece Swing band
References:
Michelle Cunningham Leeds City Council Training & Development manager
Jane Earnshaw: Inspire Coordinator LCC