We Will Sing was the last project I thought I'd have the opportunity to work on this year. In April, Dr Claire Wellesley-Smith reached out as we'd worked on 509 Arts Lost Mills and Ghost Mansions together. She offered teaming up as the Live Programme Producers for Ann Hamilton's installation in the rooftop space of Salts Mill, commissioned by Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture and Arts Council England. 

How could I say no? 

So I've spent the past six months bringing community groups on specialist trips of the space, coordinating the live readers in the booth, and producing public events to celebrate the work. We had choirs performing, a panel discussion with the artist and curators, letters to the future written, poetry shared, prayers sung - and so much more. 

The team involved are expansive and have so generously supported this project. Working with an international textile artist such as Ann Hamilton is unlike any other experience - she is generous, trusting and full of love for the connections made in the space. 

I will miss my time spent in the rooftop space of Salts Mill. The beautiful discussions over coffee and cake in the Espresso Bar. Emily Eagen's whistles through the revolving horns as I arrive through the lift. But as Ann said so gently in the panel on Friday, "We Will Sing lives on inside you now."

We did it!

Life Class took over the Loading Bay theatre from 3-12 October with sold out shows, CUPPA T panel discussions and so many beautiful moments. 

What a gift to work on such a complex, rich and imaginative project as my producing debut. To work alongside theatrical greats, an excellent production team, supportive venue staff and incredible documenters - not to mention every performer, musician, Chorus member and panellist joining us onstage - has been above and beyond my expectations for 2025. I feel so lucky to have learnt so much and work in a world I love. I'll never forget this show. 

Now we're into project wrap up and it's finally sinking in all the crazy complexities of this production and the many decisions made to create live art. It's given me so much gratitute for every production I've simply performed in and those in the wings or up on the tech desk making it possible. 

Here's to more producing projects in 2026!

After enjoying all the events and workshops Bradford Lit Fest has offered over the years, it's a huge honour to take to the stage to host a talk myself. Opportunities like this don't come around every day and it's a real pinch me moment! 

I set myself a goal in March. By the end of June, both my stage and screen showreels will be updated. This wasn't just about re-editing clips however, I wanted something new to show. 

So I got amazing creatives involved that I'm lucky enough to call friends, to devise and film a scene. Inspired by Bill Nighy's and Imelda Staunton's scene in Pride, we wanted to create a two-shot, single take short where the characters' relationships and unspoken hardships are the focus. 

Abdul Rahman Chanara as Zak 
Directed by Nicki Davy
Cinematography and editing by Akeelsworld

And here's the result:

So I've now hit my goal of updating my showreels and I'm so pleased with the range of projects I've been lucky enough to work on. Check them out below:

So this is a project I've been developing behind the scenes for over a year now, and I'm so excited the day is finally here to share it!

I'm producing and hosting a new radio show for BCB Radio (106.6FM) celebrating unconventional routes into creative industries. Each 30 minute episode will feature a local artist sharing their career journey, warts and all. I hope to amplify unheard voices and demystify the process of building a creative career from the ground up. As a full time performer reliant on cleaning in the early days of her career, I want to use this platform to destigmatise 'survival jobs' and imposter syndrome prominent in the arts, especially for working class creatives.

Any form of creative vocation is welcome to apply! This includes, but is not limited to:
- Actors, Dancers and Singers
- Filmmakers and Photographers
- Directors, Choreographers, Intimacy Coordinators, Producers
- Writers and Poets
- Visual artists
- Musicians
- Textile artists
- Potters and Sculptors
- Makeup Artists, Props and Costume Designers

The show will deep dive:

- Invisible barriers in creative fields
- Imposter syndrome
- Obvious and not so obvious routes in
- Realities of networking and industry connections
- Real 'days in my life' for different art forms
- Realistic, achievable actions aspiring creatives can take to pursue their creative vocations
- The many different roles creatives play to sustain a business
- Celebrating those feeling the fear and doing it anyway!

Please note: you do not have to be earning full time from your creative vocation to be considered for this show. I recognise the time, commitment, and individual circumstances that affect career progressions - and this is a huge focus for the show too. This is a safe, supportive space to shine a light on how any form of professional work, regardless of percentage to other income streams, qualifies a creative as professional. I want to champion everyone regardless of their current career stage, asking only that guests are open and transparent about how they got to where they are today. 

To register your interest in featuring on an episode of Creative Frequency, please complete the form below and I'll be in touch!

I've been lucky enough to be involved in Unspun Stories behind the scenes since it's R&D at Salts Mill in 2024 for the Saltaire Arts Trail and I'm really proud of its evolution into a second immersive exhibition and now digital experience. Please go give it a like and share with anyone interested in Bradford's textile heritage, multimedia art or cool new music!

Buzzing to share an extract of my solo show, Service with a Smile, is selected for Birmingham's Old Joint Stock Theatre's first scratch night, Play Test! On 5th March, audiences can support six new pieces of writing and give feedback! Tickets are Pay What You Can and can be secured using the button below. It's my first time performing in Birmingham and I'm directed by childhood friend and incredible director, Emily Susanne Lloyd! You don't want to miss this!

I am so proud to share that the Lost Mills Learning Zone is finally here for the world to enjoy! Lost Mills and Ghost Mansions was a two year oral history project funded by the National Heritage Lottery Fund and Arts Council England in collaboration with 509 Arts and Bradford Community Broadcasting (BCB). I was lucky enough to be involved from the very start and contributed to the recording of over 80+ interviews with former textile mill owners and workers. This insight, along with generously donated photographs and resources from contributors and partners like Bradford Museums and Tim Smith,  paved the way for a free online resource for anyone wanting to learn more about Bradford's textile legacy, whether you're in education or are just a curious local! 

Alongside the Learning Zone, this project produced two textile pieces with local artists, Alison Welsh, Hannah Lamb and Hannah Robson, available to view for free in their new home at Bradford Industrial Museum, as well as radio broadcasts sharing soundbites from the interviews and local primary schools learning radio production through interviewing for the project. You can listen to them on the Archive page of our website, along with the full interviews from all participants with transcripts too!

I am immensely proud of the Learning Zone as it's something I've been building behind the scenes with website whizz, Matthew Davison, and we continue to work alongside BD25 and other educational organisations to share this resource far and wide.