Youth Advisory Board

Hetty is a London-based producer who is passionate about supporting emerging artists and helping to fulfil artistic potential. She works in the Producing Team at the Royal Court Theatre.

Having graduated with a policy degree from the University of Cambridge, Hetty joined the youth board with an interest in the intersection of the arts and politics, and a desire to increase arts engagement amongst immigrant communities and broaden connections with those outside of London.

Madison Parker is a theatre producer and educator specialising in new writing and working-class narratives. She is the founder of Madison Parker Productions Ltd, creating work across London and regional theatres. A Stage One Bridge the Gap alumna and a current bursary holder, she sits on the Finance and Fundraising, Accessibility, and NYAB subgroups. Her long-term goal is to become an Executive Director of a leading arts organisation.

Alexander is a South London and Glasgow-based director and producer working across film and theatre. He is the Festival Producer of the Watersprite Film Festival, the world’s largest student film festival. Prior to this, he produced and directed work while completing a degree in Philosophy at the University of Cambridge. This includes tour-managing a production of Julius Caesar across nine US states in educational institutions and directing The Normal Heart at the ADC Theatre, raising funds for the Terrence Higgins Trust.

He is keen to deepen his understanding of artistic leadership within a dynamic environment and to contribute to the Almeida’s work in widening participation, particularly for communities outside London. This resonates with him, having spent much of his life relying on online resources, including the Almeida’s, to access theatrical work.

Ashley is an actor from Singapore and a recent graduate of UCL, where she studied Psychology and served as the Arts Officer, championing initiatives to improve diversity and make the arts more accessible to all students. As a proud member of the global majority, she joined the YAB to further her work in promoting accessibility in theatre for young people, with a particular focus on promoting diversity across class and ethnicity. She is keen on leveraging on her research expertise in the social sciences to understand the barriers to participation for those from underrepresented groups, in the hope that new initiatives – informed by a stronger evidence base – may be rolled out over time.

Deepali is a theatre-maker, facilitator and creative producer, particularly interested in work that is queer, interdisciplinary and research-led. She is currently the Community Practitioner at Curve Theatre, where she collaborates with young people, elders, and local artists alike.

She first joined the Almeida as a Young Producer before assistant directing the 2025 Young Company show Against The Tide. They are excited to have now joined the Youth Advisory Board and will be exploring how theatres can be hubs for community building and imagination that are accessible to all.

Gabi is a Bulgarian actor and theatre producer, whose work has been critically acclaimed across London and the Edinburgh Fringe, as well as toured nationally. Also the co-founder of StageBase Productions and the Bulgarian Creative Circle, she has completed her producing training at the Almeida Theatre and the National Theatre. Gabi is overjoyed to be supporting the Almeida on their mission to champion vital stories, diverse voices and early career development, as well as working towards establishing youth arts leadership pathways nationally.

Lily is a trainee accountant at a mid-size firm which specialises in providing financial services to the arts and entertainment industries. Aside from her work, she is a director and avid theatre-goer with a passion for immersive theatre and creating engaging audience experiences in our digital age. She is interested in how arts organisations can continue to foster creativity and innovation whilst navigating the complex financial landscape, and is looking forward to representing a youth perspective in financial strategy on the YAB.

Maxi Himpe is a director and interdisciplinary artist. Various works have previously been presented at Thames Festival, the Barbican, Camden Fringe and Oakland Theater Project. They are currently under commission from UCL to develop a collaborative verbatim piece about the education system in East London. They are interested in stretching our definitions of performance, working across genres such as cabaret, new writing, devising, and classic plays. 

They hold administrative positions in arts fundraising and community programming, and are a Trustee at festival.org.  

Nicole works as a Production Administrator for Jamie Wilson Productions, where she supports the organisation in mounting large scale musicals in the West End, Broadway and more. She also has governance experience from Pilot Theatre’s Youth Advisory Board.

She is elated to join the Almeida Youth Board, where she combines her love for theatre with a strong background in creative administration. Her work is grounded in a deep commitment to accessibility, inclusion, and widening participation in the arts for all, with the belief that theatre has the power to create change in the world.

Patrick grew up in London, immersed in the arts, and trained at the London Screen Academy before completing a BA in Film Practice at the London College of Communication, UAL, graduating in June 2026. Alongside his studies, he has experience across film, high-end television and theatre, working at Altitude Film Entertainment, Revolution Films and the Almeida Theatre, where he completed a stage management placement. He has moved with equal curiosity through production and development roles, finding in both a particular and abiding passion. He has contributed to the British Museum Youth Collective and the Almeida Young Producers programme, and currently sits on the LSA Alumni Committee. Keen to hone his craft and keep learning, Patrick is building towards a long-term career in film, with producing as his goal.

Qawiiah is a London-based producer and director, whose work has been staged in venues across Cambridge, Edinburgh, Brighton and the VAULT Festival. She studied English at the University of Cambridge, and since graduating in 2024, she has spent time as a Film London Mentee, 2025 BFI Festival Volunteer and an Almeida Young Producer.

Her passion for developing and championing experimental new writing extends to making theatre that challenges the audience and sparks conversations that continue long after the show. She is particularly invested in politically conscious theatre that opens dialogue, and she wishes to maximise the influence of creative organisations on policy and social change.

Saffy currently works as a caseworker for an MP, supporting individuals across the community and ensuring their concerns are heard while taking practical action to address them. She joined the YAB due to her interest in theatre as a vehicle of social change, and is particularly interested in the role that storytelling can play in helping people understand experiences different from their own and nurture empathy.

Savanna is the EDI & Business Manager at The British Academy; she published the organisation’s first EDI strategy and manages its implementation, alongside supporting the executive leadership team. In addition to her job, she has produced theatre that platforms minoritised artists and authentic stories. She joined the YAB to support Almeida’s work to be a theatre that tells socially relevant stories and engages with a diversity of artists and audiences, who all feel they can truly belong.

Tom is currently pursuing an MA in Government Studies at King’s College London following a BA in Politics, Philosophy and Economics at the University of Nottingham. Tom is also an Ambassador for My Life My Say, a youth-led organisation which strives to boost young people’s engagement in democracy and decision-making processes.

Tom is passionate about theatre facilitating a space for people to come together in person; whether as a theatre first-timer, an avid audience member or an artist. As the online world increasingly dominates how many receive their news, hear about interesting stories or engage in discussion and debate; Tom believes strongly that accessible theatre is an important and effective way to bring people together – in person – once again.