We were delighted to welcome an exciting selection of trans and nonbinary professionals to GSA for a trans-led, hour-long panel discussion and Q&A. The panel consisted of professionals from different areas of the creative industry including creative producers, performers, an intimacy coordinator, a technical theatre artist and more.
We discussed a variety of topics including routes into the creative industries, training, navigating complex situations and how to support and uplift gender-diverse voices within the sector.
To catch up on the panel discussion, click here to listen to the full recording.
Thank you to everyone who took part in the event. Click below to learn more about panel members.
Robyn is a non-binary actor best known for their work as Layla in Netflix's 'Sex Education'. Their credits also include: AMC's 'Moonhaven', BBC's 'Strike: Lethal White', and various other stage and screen roles. Their audiobook work includes the award-winning 'Our Wives Under the Sea', as well as the critically acclaimed 'Sistersong', 'How To Understand Your Gender', and 'Skin'. They are an active member of the LGBTQ community, and they are passionate about bringing this diversity into the mainstream both as an artist and as an activist.
Tigger is an actor from Guernsey, working in Theatre, TV, Film and Audio; an Intimacy Coordinator/Director; and an LGBT+ Consultant. Recent work has included "It's A Sin" C4, "Casualty" BBC, "Orlando" Jermyn Street Theatre, as an actor. "Sex Education" for Netflix, "Grace" and "The Tower" for ITV, and "FBI International" for CBS, as an IC. Tigger is Vice Chair of Equity's LGBT+ Committee and sits on the TUC LGBT+ Committee, is an activist for fairness and equality, a ski instructor, and runs an occasional pavement cake shop - CAKE on the Hedge.
"My name is Embry and I am 33 years old. I work as a lighting technician for live events. Recently, some of the work I have done involved the lighting for BBC The Musicals sponsored by the national lottery, dimmer tech for 50 Cent on his European tour last year, and lighting tech for Judas Priest on their European tour last year. As well as that lots of festivals and other one-off events. I am a cat dad and also have a blue tongue skink. I am pretty much stealth in everyday life now so describe my gender as male, but with a trans history as that is not really part of my life anymore."
Kate, a transgender performer, activist, and theatre maker, is the Artistic Director who founded the Trans Creative Arts company in 2016. She has also spearheaded Manchester's first trans arts festival, Trans Vegas, in 2017, providing a platform for over 300 trans voices. Kate has a repertoire of theatre work, including her award-winning "Big Girl's Blouse," her critically acclaimed one-woman show "You've Changed," and her roles as Feste in "Twelfth Night" and Electra in "Gypsy," both at the Royal Exchange. Kate has directed Transpose at the Barbican for two consecutive years and has frequently been a guest speaker on panels and live shows, such as the Guilty Feminist podcast. In 2018, she received a nomination for the Gay Times Arts and Culture Award.
Tom started their career as a young actor until their early 20s and then decided to try something new. They initially tested the waters as an agent’s assistant and then producer before landing into casting where they joined the team at Daniel Edwards CDG in January 2020. Since working in casting, Tom has worked on multiple TV Projects including LINE OF DUTY (BBC), SHOWTRIAL (BBC/World Productions), THEN BARBARA MET ALAN (BBC), BLUE LIGHTS (BBC) and is proud to be part of the Emmy, RTS and CDG award winning casting team behind HEARTSTOPPER S1&2 (Netflix). External to Daniel's office Tom has written a short film which is currently in pre-production and on board for the initial development of a new musical. Alongside this, they have recently joined the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion team for the UK Casting Directors Guild where their current focus is on the LGBTQIA+ community. Tom co-founded GAP Workshops which had its inaugural course during the summer of 2022. This free course helped educate, support and introduce 9 new Trans actors to the TV and Film industry with several going on to gain their first professional credits. Their passion for supporting talent from underrepresented groups, especially those from the Trans community and lower socio-economic backgrounds, remains at the forefront of their work and close to their heart having grown up on a council estate in Bristol and identifying as non-binary.
Joni is an actor/writer based in London, perhaps best known for her role as Cheery in BBC AMERICA'S The Watch. She's currently workshopping her first play. Other screen work includes: series regular Bradley in Don’t Forget the Driver (BBC), The Romanoffs (Amazon), Misnomer (short film), and live-action video game The Isle Tide Hotel (Wales Interactive) due for release this year. Most notable theatre credits include: The Prince (Southwark Playhouse), Revolt. She Said. Revolt Again (The Other Room, Cardiff), The Cost of Living (National Theatre Wales), A Christmas Carol (Nottingham Playhouse and Alexandra Palace), Carousel (Regents Park Open Air Theatre), Sweet Charity (Donmar Warehouse) and Mermaids (King's Head Theatre).