Meet the Team

Meet the people behind each house, and scroll down for the team that created the Meet Your Neighbour Installation

Image description: Basema’s house - a miniature terraced house. It has pink walls, a dark grey roof and white doors and windows. There is a white picket fence with an outdoor table and chairs set up for lunch.

Basema’s House

Welcome to Basema’s house, which is based on a story told by neighbour storyteller Basema Hashas. Our creative family living in this house are Basema Hasas, Maha Alomari and Imogen Melhish.

Basema was born in Kuwait in a town by the sea. She loves to crochet and swim and her dream is to train to be a hairdresser. Basema lives with her 3 children and family in Huddersfield.

Maha is an artist and filmmaker from Yemen. Her interest in art began at an early age. She helped set up the first art house in Taiz, her home city. Her skills range from film storyboards to character design and 2D animation. Her work explores human rights and gender equality. You can find Maha on Instagram @artist_maha_alomari

Imogen was born in the UK, and is a West Midlands based theatre designer and maker, having graduated with a First Class Honours degree in Theatre Design from Nottingham Trent University in 2019. Visit Imogen’s website.

Nasrin’s House

Welcome to Nasrin’s house, which is based on a story told by neighbour storyteller Nasrin Samavi. Our creative family living in this house are Nasrin Samavi, Farhad Berahman and Caitlin Mawhinney.

Nasrin was born in a busy city in Iran, it’s capital Tehran. She is one of the interpretation team at Derby’s Refugee Advice Centre and also a community associate of Maison Foo. She loves walking, writing poetry, gardening, hosting friends and helping others. Nasrin lives with her husband Omid and cat Rosie, in Derby.

Farhad Is an Iranian photographer and artist based in the UK. He has specialised in social documentary and editorial photography in Asia and the Middle East. Visit Farhad’s website.

Caitlin is a Set/Costume Designer and Model-maker from North Yorkshire. Since graduating from Nottingham Trent University in 2019, she has designed for theatres across the UK. In 2021, Caitlin was awarded the Evening Standard x Tik Tok Future Theatre Fund for the Visual Design category. Visit Caitlin’s website.

Image description: Nasrin’s House - a red brick miniature house with a bright red front door, white window frames and bunting. There is a street light to the side and green grass on the front garden.
Image Description: Yasmin’s House - a red brick, two-storey house, with a flat roof and wood panelling. There is bunting across the middle and under the bottom floor window. The window frames and door are white.

Yasmin’s House

Welcome to Yasmin’s house, which is based on a story told by neighbour storyteller Yasmin Hosseini. Our creative family living in this house are Yasmin Hosseini, Farhad Berahman and Sam Wilde.

Yasmin was born by the sea in south Iran. Yasmin studied Fishery Engineering at Islamic Azad University in Bandar Abbas. Yasmin’s dream is to train to be a pilot. She would also love to adopt a child and a dog! Yasmin lives in Derby.

Farhad Is an Iranian photographer and artist based in the UK. He has specialised in social documentary and editorial photography in Asia and the Middle East. Visit Farhad’s website.

Sam is a British set, costume and puppet designer. Sam was the Laboratory Set and Costume Designer at Nuffield Theatres, Southampton 2016-17 and trained in Theatre Design at Bristol Old Vic Theatre school graduating with an MA in 2015. Sam was listed in the Stage top 100 in 2021. Visit Sam’s website.

Bharti’s House

Welcome to Bharti’s house, which is based on a story told by neighbour storyteller Bharti Negi. Our creative family living in this house are Barti Negi, Gayle Chong Kwan and Sam Wilde

Bharti was born in a countryside village in North East India. She loves to garden, paint, sing and be creative. Bharti would love to work as a teaching assistant. Bharti lives with her daughter and her family of plants in Leicester.

Gayle is a British artist who was born in Edinburgh to a Chinese Mauritian Dad and Scottish Mum. She is known for her large-scale mise-en-scene environments and photographs, created out of waste products, found materials and documentary sources, and which are often sited in the public realm. Visit Gayle’s website.

Sam is a British set, costume and puppet designer. Sam was the Laboratory Set and Costume Designer at Nuffield Theatres, Southampton 2016-17 and trained in Theatre Design at Bristol Old Vic Theatre school graduating with an MA in 2015. Sam was listed in the Stage top 100 in 2021. Visit Sam’s website.

Image Description: Bharti’s House - a grey four-storey block of flats. Bharti’s is on the 2nd floor, and the windows are lines with planters and you

Khaled’s House

Welcome to Khaled’s house, which is based on a story told by neighbour storyteller Khaled Aljawad. Our creative family living in this house is Khaled Aljawad, Maha Alomari and Jida Akil.

Khaled was born in the Syrian countryside. Khaled studied Graphic Design and multimedia at Quds College in Jordan. Khaled is a graphic designer and photographer. Khaled lives with his family in Sheffield. You can find Khaled on Facebook at Khaled Aljawad Photography.

Maha is an artist and filmmaker from Yemen. Her interest in art began at an early age. She helped set up the first art house in Taiz, her home city. Her skills range from film storyboards to character design and 2D animation. Her work explores human rights and gender equality. You can find Maha on Instagram @artist_maha_alomari

Jida is a Syrian/Lebanese designer based in London. She specialises in set and costume design for theatre & dance, with an interest to branch out into opera as well. Akil is keen to explore design-led devising and new writing. She experiments with the space becoming the performer, enhanced through color & texture on stage. Visit Jida’s website.

Lydia’s House

Welcome to Lydia’s house, which is based on a story told by neighbour storyteller Lydia Lutudi. Our creative family living in this house is Lydia Lutudi, Gayle Chong Kwan and TK Hay.

Lydia was born in a busy city in North Carolina, America to a Congolese father and Indigenous American mother. Lydia is a funk and rock singer/songwriter, artist and founder of 'The I Love Me Project' which supports, educates and empowers primarily young people aged 13-25 that struggle with confidence, self esteem and self worth through workshops and events. When not singing Lydia loves to cook and socialise. You can find Lydia on Instagram and Facebook @LydiaLutudi

Gayle is a British artist, born in Edinburgh to a Chinese Mauritian Dad and Scottish Mum. She is known for her large-scale mise-en-scene environments and photographs, created out of waste products, found materials and documentary sources, and which are often cited in the public realm. Visit Gayle’s website.

TK is a theatre designer from Singapore. He is interested in the application of technology in theatre design practice. He received the Singapore National Arts Council Scholarship to train at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama. He recently won the Linbury Prize (Octagon Theatre Bolton). Visit TK’s website.

 

More Meet Your Neighbour Storytellers:

Malka, Parang, Zaher, Abdallah, Aladine, Nasim, Rey, Waru, Mohammed, Kafi. These stories will be available to listen to on our new Meet Your Neighbour Online - launching later this autumn!

Community Party Team:

Yasmin, Ahlam, Mavis, Jaqueline, Laura, Nasrin, Soraya, Christine, Ahmed, Tugba, Rashwan, Havie, Katya, Sonila, Violetta, Sakina, Javad, Marinela, Miguel, Caroline, Ali, Waru.

Project Partners & Funders:

This project has been commissioned by Derby Theatre, Attenborough Arts Centre, Migration Matters Festival and Journeys International Festival (ArtReach) and is supported using public funding by Arts Council England and The Big House European Regional Development Fund. The launch event is supported by The National Lottery Community Fund and brought to you in partnership with Derby Museums, Derby LIVE and Derby Theatre.

With huge thanks to:

Derby Refugee Advice, Upbeat Communities and City of Sanctuary, Deda and Quad.

Project Team:

Bethany Sheldon - Artistic Director

Phoebe Wall-Palmer - Creative Producer

Saziso Phiri - Project Co-Producer

Kate Chapman - Audio Dramaturg and Curator

Felicity Bromley-Hall – Embedded Journalist & Filmmaker

Gareth Courage – Illustrator / Designer

Imogen Melhuish - Community party Designer

Ali Bakewell - Event Project Manager

Frogspark –  Meet Your Neighbour Online Website (coming soon…!)

Sameena Kahn - Lead Creative Facilitator

Sam Wilde - Lead designer & Visual Collaborator

Adam McCready - Sound Designer & Mentor

Darius Powell – Digital Producer

Theresa Hempsall - Community project Lead Artist

Jo McLeish - Press & Interviewer

Nasrin Samavi - Community Associate

Performers ‘The Neighbours’  - Trina Haldar and Lauren Whitter