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About

LifeBox…What and who?

Hello!  We’re Harriet and Phil Mardlin and we founded LifeBox Theatre in 2013, using a model that we hoped would make us sustainable and also able to produce artistic work. A fair few years on, and we’re still here and truly love what we do. We reckon the energy and immediacy of live theatre is hard to beat, and its impact is often powerful and far-reaching. We support and champion new writing for theatre and collaborate with like-minded professionals.

We’re also in the business of transforming learning and development, providing participants from all sorts of different organisations with refreshing approaches to learning and exploring, through the use of adaptable, live action experiences and rehearsal room techniques – all supported by actors.

Phil also works with Jamie at Copperwheat Media https://copperwheatmedia.co.uk which produces stunning, bespoke film and media content. Depending on clients’ needs, LifeBox actors collaborate with Copperwheat for some of their work.

 

The Team

Phil Mardlin

Associate Director

Phil Mardlin

Phil has a few strings to his bow – he originally trained and worked in the world of nursing but subsequently managed to snaffle a first class honours degree in English and Performing Arts. Since then he has been a facilitator and actor and also works as a transformational coach, having qualified with Catalyst 14, and is a member of the EMCC. In 2023 he joined forces with film maker Jamie Copperwheat and formed Copperwheat Media. Phil also directs for theatre and film.

Harriet Mardlin

Creative Director

Harriet Mardlin

Harri is a performer and facilitator, and runs LifeBox day-to-day. She is highly experienced as an actor in both corporate and medical learning and development settings, and very comfortable as a workshop leader either face to face or virtually. Harri is a co-producer and regular performer with StageWrite (a new writing for theatre initiative) and her credits as an actor include work for stage, film and voiceover.

The Associates

Cally Lawrence

Associate

Cally Lawrence

Cally has been working as an actor and director since 1995 and is also an experienced facilitator. She is a co-producer, performer and director for StageWrite, a new writing for theatre initiative, and also has a wide variety of acting and directing credits that span TV, stage and film. Cally is a versatile and skilled workshop leader whose specialist knowledge includes vocal technique.

Raphael Bar

Associate

Raphael Bar

Raphael graduated from Drama Centre London with a Masters degree in Acting, and part of his training took place at the Boris Shchukin Theatre Institute in Moscow. He is highly experienced as an actor in a wide range of corporate settings and has a strong grasp of the challenges faced by leaders in the current and changing world of work. Raphael is an experienced and confident facilitator and an engaging communicator with acting credits in theatre and film.

James Macnaughton

Associate

James Macnaughton

James works as an actor and voice over artist, having graduated from Birmingham School of Acting in 2013. He is an experienced facilitator and has run nationwide workshops with the Young Shakespeare Company. James is a highly personable and confident communicator with an extensive range of acting credits in stage and film, and often works on voice overs for projects in the worlds of animation, gaming and audio books.

Nicholas Anscombe

Associate

Nicholas Anscombe

Nicholas trained at Rose Bruford College, graduating in 2010. He works as an actor, puppeteer and physical performer. Nicholas regularly undertakes film and television work as well as working in the corporate arena, and is highly skilled in learning and development settings as an actor in forum theatre and in workplace based improvised scenarios. A very dedicated and passionate individual, Nicholas is always keen to explore all avenues of performance. He has experience working with prosthetics and as a movement artist.

Michael David

Associate

Michael David

Michael trained at the Young Persons Theatre Company based in Camden, graduating in 2014 after completing a Drama and Film Studies Degree at Kingston University. Since then he has worked in short film, Theatre In Education and for stage, as well as corporate and medical learning and development settings. Michael is very experienced in medical role play and simulation, working not only with LifeBox but also in London hospitals playing patients and medical staff in a range of settings. He has written, produced and performed in his own short film, Chasing Adonis.

John Stenhouse

Associate

John Stenhouse

John is an actor and director and is experienced in both corporate and medical learning settings, using his acting skills in improvisation and simulation. He is an engaging and confident communicator and an experienced youth theatre leader. John has a range of credits as an actor for stage and film and in the past has run his own theatre company, Peppermint Muse, and developed a one man show, Altamont, which he performed at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.

Victoria Sturman

Associate

Victoria Sturman

Victoria graduated from Loughborough University with a degree in Drama, and has since trained to be an actor at The Bridge Theatre Training Company.  She is a personable and versatile performer and has experience in both medical and corporate learning and development environments. Victoria is a highly skilled and confident facilitator with a variety of acting credits. She has worked in children’s theatre, site specific performances, pantomime, short films and TV.

Miranda Shamiso

Associate

Miranda Shamiso

Miranda studied Human Geography at Queen Mary University. Her actor training includes Young Person’s Theatre Company, RADA and The Impulse Company. Miranda is a highly skilled and versatile performer with extensive experience in corporate learning settings. She is a confident facilitator and a personable and engaging communicator, expertly blending these skills along with her acting ability. Miranda is a founding member of a collective who devised, wrote and self-produced Calenture, a 50 minute play Above the Arts Theatre (2017).

Jennifer Leong

Associate

Jennifer Leong

Jen's acting career began with a two-year tour of Hamlet with the Globe Theatre, which was every bit as rewarding and intense as it sounds! She is an experienced and resourceful rehearsal coach and a confident facilitator who speaks Mandarin and Cantonese fluently and has a degree in Social and Political Sciences. When not acting, she tutors in Creative Writing, History and Chinese. Jen has worked on new writing on stage (Hampstead Theatre, Southwark Playhouse) as well as roles on screen (BBC, Channel 4), and in voice over.

Jules Brown

Associate

Jules Brown

Jules has predominately worked in theatre throughout his acting career and has extensive experience of working in ensemble and large scale productions as well as TV and film. He is a highly skilled facilitator and an adaptable and versatile rehearsal coach, with a knowledge and understanding of corporate settings and some of the key concerns and challenges for leaders and organisations. Jules has also worked as an English teacher for many years, teaching English as a foreign language to students from all over the globe, which has given him a really solid understanding of the importance of communication skills, collaboration and bringing learning materials to life.

Rosalina Lionetti

Associate

Rosalina Lionetti

Rosalina graduated from Goldsmiths, University of London with a degree in English Literature and after working in children's publishing, trained to be an English teacher. A love of education and learning led her to study for a Master's degree in Education from Cambridge University. In 2015, she trained to be an actor at Drama Centre London and has since worked in short films, feature films, commercials, corporate training videos and theatre. She is highly experienced in both corporate and medical role play, with excellent interpersonal skills. Alongside acting, Rosalina also teaches English privately.

Karen Ford

Associate

Karen Ford

Karen's career spans over 50 years, during which time she has worked extensively in theatre, film, radio and television, including 7 years as Grange Hill's art teacher Miss Booth. She is a very experienced rehearsal facilitator and an engaging communicator for any group size and across numerous types of organisation. Karen's CV as an actor in learning and development and role-play settings is extensive for a variety of industries, especially the medical profession for which she works very frequently.