Scene Change Theatre Company is a Business Partnership between David Pollendine and Mike North. We have two other excellent team members who help us out with larger bookings - Amie Buhari and James Manning.
David studied Physical Theatre and Mime at the Desmond Jones School and Acting Studies at Morley College. In 2003 he set up Big Intent Theatre Company with his brother working in schools and at festivals using drama to explore both educational and ethical issues. In 2004 David took up a full time post at the Church Mission Society as a Youth Adviser and continued working creatively, co-writing and putting on two national Theatre In Education (TIE) tours, ‘Free For All’ in 2007 looking at the history of the triangular slave trade and ‘World To Rights’ in 2009 looking at the fight for Child Rights in Victorian England and today.
David has just successfully completed a Masters in Applied Drama at Goldsmiths College, University of London. David also works as a workshop leader for Tender using drama to explore issues around domestic abuse. He is married to Irfana and has two children.
Mike is now the Director of Youth Ministries for Sheffield Diocese. He comes from a Youth Worker background having trained and worked in youth ministry for ten years, completing his Bachelor of Arts degree in Youth and Community Work and Applied Theology. Mike has been involved in pioneering youth work for the last 15 years including hosting huge youth events in York Minster, facilitating many training conferences for youth and children workers and producing annual youth and children’s musicals over a number of years.
Mike is currently studying his Masters in Media, Culture and Communication through the Institute of Education in London, while living in Doncaster with his wife Tonya and two young boys.
Mike and David met in 2005 when they started working together with the Church Mission Society and immediately the two pushed forward together producing national tours working with thousands of young people and children across the country.
Amie Buhari is a trained actor, facilitator and writer. She has worked as a youth worker in various organisations for over 15 years. She has recently set up a youth organisation call The Hebe Foundation which helps young people realise and release their God-given talents. Amie is also a worship leader and has just finished her first screenplay.
James Manning is currently the youth worker at a community church in Balham, south London. He studied at the Desmond Jones School of Mime and Physical Theatre and has created various performance pieces and performed in many different settings. He has recently been involved in running workshops and performances with young people in south London with a particular emphasis on open air theatre in the UK and abroad.
