Meet the Makers 2022
BA(Hons) Drama and Production class of 2022
Abby Bankier
Abby is twenty-one-years-old and is originally from Glasgow. She moved to Inverness four years ago to study her degree in Drama and Production at The University of the Highlands and Islands. Her time here has taught her that her love for performance and the creative industries is something that she wants to pursue in her future, supporting her to share her passion with others. Along the journey, she has been given many incredible opportunities and met so many people that share similar interests. It has been an experience that has taught her so much and she will take it with her into her future endeavours.
Email bankierabby@gmail.com
Instagram @abbyb.acts
Lucy Black
Lucy is born and bred in Scotland, Forres. She has danced for the last eighteen years of her life and first got on the stage at five years old. The styles of dance she does are Irish, jazz, tap and ballet. Every few years the dance company puts on a show called 'Showtime' to showcase the dancers and Lucy takes part.
She is currently in her final year of her degree of Drama and Production at The University of The Highlands and Islands.
Email lucyeblack2000@gmail.com
Instagram @lucyblack_acting
Jill Connor
Jill Connor is originally from Australia and enrolled in the UHI Drama and Production Degree as a mature student to try and build a creative career.
In 2019 she became a member of The Mad Hatter’s of Moray, a local performance group. She has been involved in live and zoom productions and many street performances as part of the troupe. Through the course, Jill discovered a passion for directing and was reminded of her love of creative writing. Jill’s dream is to work in Drama Therapy.
Email jill.a.connor@gmail.com
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/jill.connor.7587/
Amy Crook
Born and bred in Inverness Amy attended many local dance classes and theatre school TFX where she is now Head of Drama and Creative Assistant.
Amy believes in making a difference in young people’s lives and is a big advocate for children’s mental health. She loves to create physical theatre for young people to help them to express themselves and enjoys seeing empowered young people take to the stage.
Email agallagher1504@googlemail.com
Instagram @AmyCrook_Performs
Jo Czesak
Jo is a Polish creative studying BA (hons) Drama and Production in Scotland. After being introduced to Drama and starting their journey in the Scottish curriculum, Jo took on the opportunity to learn a whole range of skills related to it. At first, they kept their focus on acting, but that quickly expanded into directing, writing, and all aspects of production involved in creating a performance. Now, they hold a skillset to handle most, if not all, tasks related to theatre performance, ready to learn even more.
When outside of the theatre space, Jo dabbles in other creative exploits through film and art, which often ultimately aid their theatrical pursuits.
Email czesakjo@gmail.com
Instagram @joczesakcreative
Crystal Galbraith
Crystal has been performing since she was five years old with a local after school drama club. Throughout her school time she was always keen to get involved in the few and far between drama opportunities there were for Shetlanders and was even credited with keeping her high schools drama club alive. During her time at UHI she has developed a much more rounded sense of drama and what it involves, honing her skills in directing, writing, costume and set design, as well as many more than she expected. During these last four years Crystal has met some of the most amazing people in her life and she would like to thank each and every one of them for being with her in this journey.
Email crystalgalbraith@icloud.com
Instagram @crystalgalbraith.actor
Clementine Potts
Clementine Potts (she/her) is creative from the Scottish borders. She has worked for ten plus years as an actor/director/practitioner. She has vast experience in performing; everything from classical Shakespeare to musicals! She loves to create fun light-hearted children's stories aimed at adults.
One of her core beliefs is to inject as much fun as possible in day-to-day life!
Email hogarthlucyk@gmail.com
Instagram @henry.the.happy.pumpkin
Dulcie Jacobs
Dulcie Jacobs is an actor, musician, and dancer.
Dulcie's finds having a creative outlet helps her with everyday life. Having a sense of passion in performance encourages her to bring passion into other aspects of her life, such as fashion, writing and reading.
Email dulciejacobs@hotmail.co.uk
Talisha Leonce
Adoption is such a special thing and gives a child a second chance to start a new life. I have never really spoken about my adoption to people, not that I am embarrassed, I just see my family as my family and never question anything.
Over the past few years as I have got older I have shown a real interest and appreciation for my adoption. This piece was created to share my experience, highlighting how incredible my family is, and to thank them for giving me the gift of a second chance in life.
My story is about sharing how amazing the Leonce family is and the ways in which the family has made me who I am today.
This journey will show people, through the use of home videos, song, and my thoughts and feelings, that you do not need to be blood related to family to make them your ‘real’ family.
Blood means nothing, love is all you need.
Email trish15.leonce@icloud.com
Instagram @tmays_acting
Lilia Malkonen
Lilia was born and raised in Finland but has since spent lengthy amounts of time abroad. Her most recent expedition being in the Scottish Highlands, studying to get her bachelor's degree on the drama and production course with The University of Highlands and Islands.
She started her performing career through circus and dance, continuing to theatre and acting, but has since moved to work mostly with the mediums of writing and film due to a struggle with her health. Nevertheless, as a jack of all trades, she is always looking for new things to explore and to find alternative ways to indulge her creative side.
Email lilia.malkonen@gmail.com
Instagram @ghostliegirl
Emma Marshall
Emma Crichton (she/her) is an aspiring actress, writer and director from Moray, Scotland. She enjoys writing, reading, video games and over analysing the colour palettes in her favourite films.
Diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder at the age of fifteen, Emma has used the creative arts throughout her life as a means of both self-expression and self discovery to cope with her disability.
She has a particular interest in horror and the coming of age genre, and art that explores the way people are shaped by their experience and surroundings.
Email ncm.emma@gmail.com
Instagram @e.m.crichton
Callum McLeod
Callum McLeod predominantly works with community theatre groups across the North East of Scotland. He integrates his background as an actor, director, writer, musician, stage manager and stage technician to deliver a well rounded experience for cast members and audience. Callum currently works as a Drama practitioner in secondary schools around Moray, delivering practical workshops focusing on developing social skills, team working and confidence building.
Callum’s past professional work includes:
Director | The Wizard of Oz (Elgin Musical Theatre, 2021/22)
Dame Deanie & writer | Dick Mcwhittington filmed production (OOTD TC, 2020)
Dame Flora | Beauty and the Beast touring production (OOTD TC, 2019)
Felisha the Mermaid & Tinkerbell | Peter Pan touring production (OOTD TC, 2018)
Mother Goose | Mother Goose touring production (OOTD TC, 2017)
Ensemble | Robert Burns the Musical (L2L productions, 2015/16)
Email mcleod.theatre@gmail.com
Billie Michie
Originally from the North East of Scotland, William has been on the stage and performing from the age of five. Starting with a school production of The Jungle Book in primary one, a spark and love for performance ignited a fire of personal connection and storytelling that has never gone out. He has a passion for writing and can often be found writing both comedic and heart-wrenching scripts in his spare time, even occasionally dipping into the waters of horror writing. Whilst he has many years of experience in musicals, he has also previously performed Shakespeare and his own original works. He is also a guitar player, and has been playing for almost a decade, which allows an outlet and opportunity to hone his singing even when he is not on stage.
Email billiehmichie@gmail.com
Instagram @williammichieactor