DONNA GRAY
Performer, co-deviser, co-producer
Donna studied Acting at Drama Centre (University of the Arts London) following an extensive dancing career working on shows with Alan Partridge, Harry Enfield & Chums, BBC’s Pride & Prejudice and Emma. She has travelled the world as an actor and her credits include Byzantium (Neil Jordan) and Lily & The Clown (Chris Gilbertson), and featured commercials such as Innovo and Asda. For ITI, Donna co-directs Faulty Towers The Dining Experience and has been playing Sybil Faulty since 2012; she also plays Lynn/Marge in Confetti & Chaos (formerly The Wedding Reception). As a writer of her own material, Donna is delighted that her new show, ‘Pamela’s Palace’, is now included in the ITI repertoire.
AYESHA TANSEY
Performer, co-deviser
Ayesha Tansey is an actress and creative producer who studied at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama in classical acting and at Jacques Lecoq in Paris. She has worked for the RAF, Garnier, Allanah Madeline Foundation, Met Police, MKA: Theatre of New Writing, Les Foules, Miriam Austin and One Taste Cabaret. Recent production credits include The Ugliest Buildings in London for the London Festival of Architecture, Please Don’t Talk About Me When I’m Gone (Origins Award for Outstanding New Work), VAULT Festival 2015 and absurd comedy ‘stuck’ that will be touring Europe in 2018. For ITI, Ayesha also plays Sybil in Faulty Towers The Dining Experience.
KATIE GRACE COOPER
Performer, co-deviser
Katie is an experienced performer who specialises in acting, comedy, physical theatre and singing. She is also a noted deviser and writer. Since graduating from W.A.C Arts in London, she has appeared at The Young Vic, Southbank Centre, Assembly Rooms, The Old Market, BAC, Greenwich Theatre and many more. She has also worked with Gomito Productions, Strangeface and Longnose Puppets; has been directed in clown by Philippe Gaulier, Dr Brown, Mick Barnfather, Spymonkey and Cal McCrystal; been a full time member of Wildheart Theatre; and written and devised a sellout, 5-star 1-woman show for families, ‘Mrs McMoon’. With ITI, Katie also performs as Sybil in Faulty Towers The Dining Experience, and as Kate/Val in Confetti & Chaos (formerly The Wedding Reception).
MELLA FAYE
Director
Mella Faye is an actress, director and musician. From 1999-2002 Mella toured extensively as Mella Faye & The Big Band, performing original jazz-funk-pop. In 2006 she co-founded The Hurly Burly Touring Theatre Cafe, providing interactive theatre sketches and flash mob dance routines while serving gourmet vegetarian food at Glastonbury and other arts festivals. More recently, she co-founded and currently directs and manages ARTBARS, a cocktail and circus performance installation at major British arts festivals. Mella is joint Artistic Director of Wildheart Theatre Co, making absurdist comedic theatre, and Artistic Director of Pecho Mama, making gritty gig-theatre. When not creating and performing with her own companies, Mella freelances as an actress, theatre director, voiceover artist, singer and composer for film and live performance. www.mellafaye.co.uk
