Julie Power-Annand
Julie is a freelance drama practitioner and has worked for Speech bubbles for 5 years. She loves the fun, expression and positive collaboration that Speech bubbles encourages in children at school.
Julie has extensive experience of working with children and young people. She has used drama, theatre and the arts for confidence, creativity and to give voice to primary and secondary school children, young people with disabilities, children looked after as well as adults at end of life.
Julie writes and performs poetry and has written and adapted for the stage.
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Carys Williams
Carys is a freelance creative practitioner specialising in drama, storytelling and poetry. She manages an acrobatic and dance youth programme in Hackney and delivers anti-bullying training nationwide with The Diana Award. Through Speech Bubbles, she loves bringing stories to life and creating playful spaces where children can be heard. She’s passionate about creating connections and seeing drama and storytelling spark confidence, creativity, and change.
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Lauren Spence
Lauren is a multidisciplinary creative, actor and theatre facilitator who is passionate about using storytelling to build connection and confidence.
With a deep commitment to community engagement and collaborative practice. She supports projects that amplify underrepresented voices and foster safe, joyful spaces for expression.
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Sharon Kanolik
Sharon has been a Speech Bubble Practitioner since 2024 and has led drama and arts projects for young people for 20 years.
She is also a theatre maker and creative producer, collaborating with different organisations on participation projects.
Sharon is proud to be part of Speech Bubbles and enjoys hearing children's stories and bringing them to life. She also loves seeing children grow in confidence and self-expression throughout the project.
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Amie Taylor
Amie has been a Speech Bubbles Practitioner since 2018, and has worked with young people in drama and theatre for 20 years.
She’s also a writer, theatre maker, and the director of Fun Palaces; a campaign that aims to put arts and culture at the heart of communities across the UK.
She loves working on Speech Bubbles, and getting to spend time each week diving into to an imaginative space, exploring children’s stories and getting to play and be silly.
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Matt Wardle
Matt has been a passionate Speech Bubbler for 10 years, as both a practitioner for Peoplescape Theatre in Manchester and now managing North West Drama’s cohort of schools across Salford, Stockport, Trafford and Tameside. He is a firm believer that all children and young people have a right to experience drama that inspires learning and drives forward a creative and humanising curriculum.
He was a primary teacher for 10 years, and now works across the areas of theatre making, performance, drama for learning and producing. He is the Creative Producer of North West Drama alongside his freelance work - and also teaches yoga.
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Alison Hale
Alison is proud to have been involved in Speech Bubbles since the start many years ago! She has a specialism in creating Speech Bubbles practice in SEND settings and loves being part of inclusive creative spaces where playful interactions can happen. She is also joint Creative Director of Peoplescape Theatre who are a franchise partner for Speech Bubbles in Manchester.
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Kirsty Blewett
Kirsty is a Rose-Bruford trained performer and drama facilitator who specialises in working with and for children. She loves to play. Sensory theatre, visual storytelling and puppets make her excited. Kirsty’s drama practice is all about shining a light on unheard voices. She is founder and Associate Performer at Squelch, who was mentored by Speech Bubbles.
Since joining Speech Bubbles in 2021 with her silly, bird puppet, Rainbow, she has relished in igniting the imaginations of her Speech Bubbles groups and helping other Speech Bubbles practitioner’s grow. It has been a privilege to share the Speech Bubbles ethos to education and drama practitioner’s alike in London and beyond.
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Jenny Harris
Jenny Harris is a freelance drama practitioner based in Manchester.
She has worked as part of the Speech Bubbles team since 2017.
She has delivered Speech Bubbles CIO for M6 Theatre Company in Rochdale and now delivers evaluation sessions as well as doing supervisions, which she loves.
She loves Speech Bubbles because it places the child and their stories at the heart of the work. It’s hugely empowering for children with a range of communication needs.
Jenny is proud to be part of the Speech Bubbles family!
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Shermaine Slocombe
Shermaine is an interdisciplinary artist and educator deeply engaged in participatory practices. Over the past two decades, she has contributed to the cultural and educational sectors, devising and delivering authentic artistic experiences and immersive projects for both Primary and Secondary audiences. Her aim is to empower young individuals to discover their voices, emphasising the presentation and curation of outcomes generated by participants.
Within her practice, she leads workshops and projects in dance, theatre, and visual arts. She delivers teacher training sessions, develops classroom resources and provides guidance on educational initiatives. Her passion lies in recognising the transformative potential of the arts to unite communities and individuals, as well as advocating for the integral role of creativity in education.
She adores being a Speech Bubbles practitioner, where witnessing the transformation in communication through play and drama for young people is remarkable!
@shemyslocs
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Flo Katesmark
Flo has been delivering Speech Bubbles since 2016 across London. Currently she delivers with Immediate Theatre in Hackney and for Speech Bubbles CIO in Lambeth. She is also a Speech Bubbles associate and has led training and supervision visits. Every year she loves watching children gain confidence, work together and use their imagination in a playful environment. Flo believes Speech Bubbles really does transform the lives of the children and school staff involved in the project, by giving everyone a voice.
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