Meat the Team…

Paul Swift

Paul Swift has worked in theatre in education and community theatre since 1973, and as a writer and director since 1974. Companies include Contact Theatre, Tyne Wear Theatre, Belgrade TIE, Theatre Clwyd Outreach, Spectacle Theatre, Red Ladder, Humberside TIE and Leeds Playhouse TIE. To date he has directed 30 plays, and written 43 plays that have been performed in Britain and abroad, including RAJ, DIRTY RASCALS, NO MAN’S LAND, GOOD FOR NOTHING which have also been published.

Annalyn Bhanji

Annalyn Bhanji was a founder member of Leeds Playhouse TIE Company in 1970. Before 1970 she worked for Bolton Octagon and Theatre Centre. Whilst at Leeds Playhouse TIE she also directed BHANGRA GIRLS for Red Ladder. Productions she has devised and performed in include the award winning FLAGS AND BANDAGES and RAJ. She was awarded an MBE for services to the arts in 1990. She has been an Arts Council Assessor and was the Open College Network External Moderator for Proper Job’s LAB PROJECT Course.

Michael Jameson

Michael Jameson graduated from Leeds University in 1993. Since then he has worked extensively as an actor in theatre and television. He has toured nationally and internationally with Crucible Theatre, West Yorkshire Playhouse, Pilot Theatre Company, Oxford Stage Company, York Theatre Royal, Swan Theatre Worcester. Michael joined Leeds TiE in September 2001 and has worked as an actor, facilitator and course tutor on the cross community educational theatre programmes – WARTIME, TOUCHED, ANOTHER PLACE, DUMB and BAD MUMMY. Michael represented the company at the IDEA international drama conference in Canada. He is the Arts Award Adviser for the company. 

Biddy Coghill

 Biddy Coghill joined the Leeds Playhouse Theatre in Education Company in 1977. She was trained at LAMDA then qualified as a drama teacher and taught in a Birmingham comprehensive school before joining the company. In 2001 Biddy went on to work for the WEA organising adult education courses in the community after which she re-joined the TIE company in 2014.

All four have current Enhanced DBS checks in place.