This one-day training course is for early career theatre artists and group work practitioners interested in creating safe and transformative women-only spaces. Drawing on decades of working with women with lived experience of the criminal justice system, this course will provide participants with the space to build their confidence and develop a rich toolkit to improve their practice.
The day will be facilitated by Clean Break’s Joint Artistic Director, Anna Herrmann, and Creative Associate, Rachel Valentine Smith.
Through a mixture of presentation, group work and discussion, participants will learn:
Please note this training takes place in a women-only setting.
About the Facilitators
Anna Herrmann is Joint Artistic Director of Clean Break. She has been working in the field of theatre and social change for thirty years, specialising in theatre and participation in the UK and abroad. She has been with Clean Break since 2002 as the Head of Education, leading the company’s award-winning work with women in the criminal justice system and women at risk of entering it. With Clean Break she has directed Through This Mist (co-directed with Róisín McBrinn), Sweatbox (national tour and film), Not Pretty Like The Rainbow (national tour) and Catch (national tour). In 2020 Anna was elected as co-chair of the National Criminal Justice Arts Alliance.
Rachel Valentine Smith is a Director and Artist and has been a Creative Associate of Clean Break since April 2022. Rachel was co-artistic director of The Faction between 2015-2022 developing a multi award winning ensemble practice and creating work nationally and internationally. Her work includes reimaginings of the classics; regular collaborations with emerging and established writers from the UK, Kosovo, Afghanistan and Lebanon and cross discipline events and installations. Rachel's work has been presented at New Diorama Theatre, Wilton’s Music Hall, The Gate, Stephen Joseph Theatre and she has been commissioned by The Lowry and British Council.