Meet the Workshop Leaders
Ehireme Omoaka
Creative writing & Drama practitioner with a passion for young people discovering their voice through the arts, led workshops for Care Leavers in Luton.
Their ideas and characters created from the workshop will be transformed into a short story by actor, screenwriter and author Joseph Elliott.
Ehireme said “I just finished the story telling Project which was with young people with lived experience of being in care. I could feel a sense of ‘wanting to off load my thoughts onto paper’ from some of the young people who attended the sessions.”
“The beautiful thing about this storytelling project is that no one knew where their stories was going to go, and I’m so proud of the participants for allowing themselves to get lost in the process and making sense of it. True storytellers for real!”
Aaron Spendelow
Creative Artist passionate for storytelling with various artforms including acting, puppeteering & theatre making.
Aaron facilitated the LGBTQIA+ workshops in assisting the group to ignite imaginations and creativity in the process of sparking the idea for a short story.
The ideas from this workshop have been written up into a short story by author Jo Cotterill.
Aaron said “I am pleased to be asked to facilitate in enabling a brand new story to be created from the people of Luton for Luton Literature.”
“Storytelling impacts change and influences positively to wellbeing and I’m proud to be part of this project.”
David Lloyd
Creative Practitioner & Theatre Maker with a passion for inclusivity and spotlighting authentic youth voice.
David facilitated the CHUMS Young Carers workshops, supporting them to grow their confidence, to tell their stories, create characters and think about scenarios and plot ideas.
The ideas from this workshop will be written up into a short story by author Helen Rutter.
David said “Thank you so so so much for entrusting myself and NGYT to work with such incredible young people. I was blown away by their creativity, fearlessness and commitment to weave reality and fantasy together.”
“This is an experience that will live with me for a long time to come and I cannot wait to see what our author produces. Thank you Luton Literature and CHUMS for facilitating such a well curated opportunity for all involved”
Lee Nelson
Performer, teacher, workshop-leader. Lee led workshops for SEND children at Richmond School, and their creations will be turned into a short story written by Jen Carney. Lee said “Everyone that wants to create deserves the chance to create.”
“These workshops started out as a way of opening up the sharing of ideas and, by the end, the flow was almost unstoppable. The children who took part were full to the brim of characters and stories and once they knew they were safe to share, they didn’t want to stop!”
“When I finished the last session they asked when the next one was and, when I said sorry that was it they said they would make up the next story on their own and just for themselves . . . mission accomplished!”
“Power and ownership taken by the people it should always belong to . . . couldn’t have hoped for better.”
Molly Sims
Creative Practitioner, Theatre Maker and Actor, Molly Sims led workshops for SEND children at Woodlands School. Their inventive ideas, plots and characters will be worked into a new story by author Laura Noakes.
Molly said “It has been an absolute pleasure working with the young people at Woodlands! I am incredibly inspired by their unique imaginations, creativity and brilliantly silly humour. I have thoroughly enjoyed my time working on The Storytelling Project and I am very excited to see all of the stories come together.”
“Thank you so much to Luton Literature for this opportunity and to the young people and support staff at Woodlands for being so welcoming and open to the creative process.”
“I am incredibly inspired by their unique imaginations, creativity and brilliantly silly humour. I have thoroughly enjoyed my time working on The Storytelling Project and I am very excited to see all of the stories come together.”