Because any fin is possible
Slap Haddock are a theatre company that aims to make work for and with communities in non-traditional spaces; allowing them to fully engage with the arts and the history of their area in unexpected and exciting ways.
Our work is characterised by playfulness, curiosity, collaboration and terrible puns. We use performance as a platform to encourage better social cohesion through site-responsive work that inspires conversation and learning. By re-appropriating forgotten stories and working directly with communities, we believe that any fin is possible.
The Company
Co-Artistic Director
Co-Artistic Director
Nick Cassenbaum
Co-Artistic Director
Nick is a theatre maker, street performer, writer and avid pickle enthusiast. Graduating with an MA in Writing for Performance from Goldsmiths he went on to attend the prestigious Royal Court Young Writers Programme.
His creative work has led him to work with venues from Soho Theatre, Jacksons Lane, the Albany and The Open Age Centre and with companies such as Circadian, The Bureau of Silly Ideas, Big Wheel and many more.
Nick's work is motivated by a desire to examine, explore and celebrate the idiosyncrasies that characterise different Greater London communities. He asks you to think about how you engage with the spaces, places and people around you.
Nick is also one half of the locally funded Take Stock Exchange, a theatre company focused on creating community cohesion work for the London borough of Redbridge.
Emily Harwood
Co-Artistic Director
Emily is a set & costume designer for theatre, opera, film and public spaces. Having graduated from the University of Kent with a Masters in Theatre & Drama Studies, she has since gone on to work with a variety of different companies ranging from the National Youth Theatre, Spare Tyre, the Albany, Punchdrunk, Identity Actors Guild and many others.
Often found fishing for treasure in markets and charity shops, she draws her inspiration from the everyday; making the ordinary extraordinary. Her diverse skill set includes model making, set construction, scenic painting, prop making, 2D animation and puppet construction.
Emily is also co-founder of Dandelion Clock Shop. An emerging children’s storytelling and puppetry company, aimed at creating fun and heart-warming stories and crafts for those young at heart.
Who we like working with
Co-Producer
Project Consultant
Martha Crawford
Project Consultant
Martha is a story gather and project manager. Currently studying for an MA in Community Organising at Queen Mary and working at London South Bank University as a Partnership Manager. Martha believes that change comes from stories and sharing them.
Martha likes to get involved with lots of different projects from creative ones like Affecting Perception - a Wellcome Trust funded project exploring the relationship between art and neuroscience - to organising with young people 5 schools and colleges in Hackney to register new voters and hold their constituents to account.
Elena Byers
Co-Producer of the Fyrsts' Market Stall
Elena is a creative producer, workshop facilitator and copywriter who believes in making the arts accessible to all.
Having graduated from the University of Exeter she started her career at Time Won’t Wait as a Projects Assistant and then Tour Booker for the hit show Shadow Boxing. Since then she has worked as a PA, artist, actor, researcher and community engagement manager on a variety of arts and cultural projects across the UK.
She has also worked as a creative producer for touring interactive performance with festivals such as the Secret Garden Party and been involved with social engagement projects such as Meet Me At The Albany in Deptford. Elena is also Creative Content Coordinator at Antidote; managing their social media, marketing and copywriting and continues to work with Time Won’t Wait as their Assistant Producer.
Olly Hawes
Workshop Facilitator
Olly is a theatre maker and workshop leader who has worked with some of the country’s most exciting companies and venues, including the National Theatre, the Young Vic and the Bush.
His show You, Me and the World was performed at Zoo Venues as part of the Edinburgh Fringe Festival 2014.
Robin Rayner
Co-Producer of A Night at the Pictures
Robin is an independent theatre producer. He has produced the critically acclaimed 21st Anniversary Production of The Fastest Clock In The Universe (Old Red Lion), The Confession Room (St James Studio), Our Friends The Enemy (Edinburgh Festival), Oil & Trouble (Workshop), Christmas Is Miles Away (Hen & Chickens), Under The Mistletoe (Battersea Barge), Debbie Chapman - Queen of Hearts (Leicester Square Theatre & Edinburgh Festival). He has been Production Assistant on the Olivier Awards 2015, Beautiful Thing (Arts Theatre & UK Tour) and Judy, The Righteous (Trafalgar Studios 2).
Kate Sarley
Executive Director of the Fyrsts' Family Project
www.mitchell.uk.net
Kate has been involved behind the scenes for over 25 years, firstly as a Stage Manager and more recently as administrative member of the Senior Management Team & Producer.
She then began her consultancy practice Mitchell Productions in 2005. In the last ten years she has undertaken a number of senior contracts specialising in creative producing, balanced with providing senior management support during periods of restructure
Contracts include: Jacksons Lane (Interim CEO), Eastern Angles (Interim Executive Director) Cardboard Citizens (Producer for Visible), Boileroom winners of the Oxford Samuel Beckett Award, (Producer), Shape East (Finance & General Manager), Discover Children’s Centre (Interim Finance & General Manager), Ladder to the Moon (General Manager), Oval House Theatre (Interim General Manager), SPID Theatre Company (Admin Consultant), High Tide Festival (Company Manager).
Kate is also co-founder of Loud Talkin with Karena Johnson