Hosted by Deborah Dean (Warwick Business School) and Anne-marie Greene (University of Leicester School of Business).

This online seminar is aimed at practitioners and researchers interested in understanding more how Clean Break works in collaboration with its partners in the theatre sector. What is involved in a Clean Break collaboration?

Róisín McBrinn, Joint Artistic Director, Clean Break and Phil McCormack, Head of Participation, Donmar Warehouse reflect on the experience of recent co-commissioned work between their two organisations and the impact that Clean Break practices have on the wider theatre sector.  Shona Babayemi, Member of Clean Break and cast member  of [BLANK] joins the conversation with personal reflections.

Women/Theatre/Justice. W/T/J is a two-year project funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council led by academics in theatre and performance studies (Prof Caoimhe McAvinchey and Dr Sarah Bartley) and work and employment relations (Prof Anne-marie Greene and Dr Deborah Dean) to develop new understandings about the women-only theatre company Clean Break and its forty years working with women with experience of the criminal justice system.

Our Speakers

Róisín McBrinn has been Joint Artistic Director of Clean Break since 2018. Prior to this she was Head of the Artistic Programme since 2014 with responsibility for commissioning and developing writers and artists. She has directed many productions including shows at the Abbey Theatre, the Gate Theatre (Dublin), West Yorkshire Playhouse, the Donmar Warehouse, Sheffield Theatres, the Bush Theatre and Sherman Theatre. For Clean Break, she has directed Joanne by Deborah Bruce, Theresa Ikoko, Laura Lomas, Chinonyerem Odimba and Ursula Rani Sarma; House by Somalia Seaton; Amongst the Reeds by Chinonyerem Odimba; and Thick as Thieves by Katherine Chandler.

Phil McCormack is the Head of Participation at the Donmar Warehouse, leading on school and community programmes through the Donmar's Discover programme. Recent Discover projects include ISOLATE ENSEMBLE - working with young Londoners in the early stages of lockdown, MONUMENTS - a film project with 16-18 year olds exploring the legacies of The Empire in London, and ASSEMBLY - the Donmar's inaugural Local production exploring the climate crisis in the Donmar’s home boroughs of Camden and Westminster, broadcast live from multiple locations. Phil has directed work with communities and young people nationally and internationally, and trained at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland.

Shona Babyemi is an actress, writer and member of Clean Break. She has been involved in A Midsummer Night's Dream (Globe Theatre) [BLANK] (Donmar Warehouse/Clean Break); Rising (Cardboard Citizens); All the Lights Are On (Clean Break). Royal Court Writers' Group 2020. Soho Theatre Writers' Group 2019.