NADINE AISHA JASSAT

Nadine Aisha Jassat is a poet, writer, and creative practitioner, whose work explores storytelling and social justice. She is the author of Let Me Tell You This (404 Ink), described as ‘beautifully written, immense, and full of passion’ by Nikita Gill, and ‘a joy both live and on the page’ by Hollie McNish. She has performed across the UK and internationally and has an extensive background in creative practice. Her work has drawn acclaim; in 2019 she was named by Makar Jackie Kay as one of 10 compelling BAME writers working in the UK, as part of the British Council and National Centre for Writing’s International Literature Showcase.

HEATHER MARSHALL

  Heather Marshall is a multi award winning, socio political artist and writer. She often works under the company name Creative Electric where she creates theatre and live art for people that may not traditionally engage in the arts due to social or financial barriers. A large part of her work explores the impact a person’s environment has on their mental health. This became the subject of her most recent play ‘____ is where the heart is’ which toured rural and central belt Scotland in summer 2019. 

Heather is artist in residence with Edinburgh International Festival. The focus of this 18 month residency is to empower young people through arts activism, developing participants’ confidence and self-esteem and ensuring that young LGBTQ+ voices are not only heard but celebrated in their communities. 

Heather is currently creating an adaptation of Medusa, inspired by her and other women’s experiences of living with premenstrual dysphoric disorder. The work is being supported by Stellar Quines and Playwrights’ Studio Scotland.

JACK STANCLIFFE

Jack Stancliffe is a creative practitioner working within participatory art and schooling contexts. He utilises “weak” mechanisms and antagonistic approaches to allow things and ideas to be collaboratively created, reconfigured or challenged with outcomes sometimes resulting in temporary structures, tool kits, public conversations, writings, performances or dysfunctional objects.

LILIAN PTACEK

Lilian Ptáček is a visual artist working across printmaking, collage and installation. She often develops projects collaboratively with artists, community groups and young people. Her practice is motivated by an interest in the narratives and meanings actively ascribed to objects and images. Ideas are developed through process and materiality, often in response to the unpredictable results of a process.

Since graduating from The Glasgow School of Art in 2015 with a BA (hons) in Fine Art, Painting and Printmaking she has exhibited both nationally and internationally and been recipient of residencies at Hospitalfield (Scotland) and The Lighthouse Works (USA). Last year, Ptáček completed a public commission for Boghall Drop-in Centre with artist Poppy Nash, creating artworks that developed from workshops with the community. Ptáček has worked as an Art Educator for numerous organisations and is currently working for The University of Edinburgh developing online creative projects for Access to Creative Education in Scotland (ACES).

ROSS MACKAY

Ross MacKay is the Artistic Director of Tortoise in a Nutshell where he first directed Scotsman Fringe First winning, Feral, back in 2013. He most recently directed international co-production, Fisk, opening in Denmark.  Other directorial credits for the company include The Lost Things, Grit and The Last Miner which have received between them two Kotorski Theatre Festival Awards and multiple award nominations. 

Ross was also Associate Artist for Perth Theatre where he directed the Offie Award nominated, Prince Charming. Other credits include the Scottish Arts Club award nominated, Myth of The Singular Moment and the critically acclaimed, Velvet Evening Séance.

PURE POTENTIAL SCOTLAND

Pure Potential Scotland creatively facilitates positive change through Training, Wellbeing Groups, Therapeutic Counselling, CCT Suicide Therapy, Movement Medicine, Supervision, Research and Consultancy. They are passionate about supporting the transformation of negative and outdated emotional, mental and behavioural patterns to free individuals, realise their potential and embrace who they are.

All their Therapists are registered members of the British Association of Counselling & Psychotherapy.

Pure Potential Scotland are the mental health and emotional wellbeing specialists for Scottish Youth Theatre, offering workshops on mental health, wellbeing and resilience as well as 1-2-1 therapeutic sessions.

The work we do focuses on connections: connections to ourselves, to others and with the world we live in. Our work is individually tailored and responsive to the individuals’ needs, encouraging clients and participants to be active partners in the therapeutic process. We work holistically, meaning we work with the ‘whole’ individual: that is, body, mind, heart and soul. We understand that the relationship between the Therapist and Client is crucial to success. 

Carolyn Wood – Director, Pure Potential Scotland