Susie McKenna

Susie McKennaSusie McKennaSusie McKenna

Susie McKenna

Susie McKennaSusie McKennaSusie McKenna
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  • Director
  • Writer Director
  • Actress
  • Pantomime
  • Educator

EDUCATOR

A keen and experienced educator, Susie has helped create education programmes in theatres, schools and projects attached to her own productions and West End shows.

Susie has also provided workshops in many drama schools, and has been a guest speaker on the Futures for All's Speakers for Schools programme for many years.

Most recently Susie worked with the Cameron Mackintosh Organisation to create an education programme for West End and touring production of the the worldwide phenomenon 'Hamilton', and MC'd the first three post-show schools-show Q&A on stage at the Victoria Palace Theatre in London. In 2023/24, Susie was also guest facilitator on the Young Vic/Black Lives in Music "Introduction to Making" programme.

IMAGE

The Creation of Hackney Empire's Artists' Development Progra

In 2002, Susie began Hackney Empire's Artists' Development Programme (aka ADP), directing the annual main house show for over twenty years. 

Each year 50 young artists, from all genres, work together with a team of top professionals to devise and create a new piece of musical theatre in the space of two weeks, and then perform it on the main stage.

The programme is still going strong to this day, providing training and main house experience to young people from across London; and many participants have gone on to have successful careers in the arts across all genres.

Our Features

Susie also helped form, and then directed two graduate theatre companies that grew out of the Hackney Empire ADP. Hackney Harlem Theatre Company which performed the devised actor & musician show 'A Mid-Summer Night's Madness', which toured to the Harlem Theatre Festival NYC, Edinburgh Festival and main house Hackney Empire.

T.W.I.S.T Theatre Company

T.W.I.S.T

T.W.I.S.T theatre company also toured to Edinburgh Festival and played Hackney Empire's Main House.

Focusing on Education at Hackney Empire as Creative Director

Hackney Empire's Education Programme

Hackney Empire's Education Programme

Hackney Empire's Education Programme

During her tenure as Creative Director at Hackney Empire, Susie also presided over their education programme which grew to provide performing arts education for over 1,000 young people a year.

Talent & Education Shows

Hackney Empire's Education Programme

Hackney Empire's Education Programme

Susie also created talent and education shows such as Alter Ego and Hackney Vs. Harlem, which saw winners of the London show compete and ultimately go on to win at the Apollo Theater Amateur Night in New York City.

Haringey Shed & Susie's Masterclass Workshops

Haringey Shed

Having directed their first summer schools from 2001-2008, Susie is now a patron of Haringey Shed Theatre, and is looking forward to her role and what she can do for the charity as a patron.

Susie's Masterclass Workshops

During Lockdown, Susie hosted many workshops via Zoom, one Kiln workshop in particular can be seen here.

Susie has also worked at London Studio Centre, Arts Educational School. Millenium Dance and Mountview as a freelance facilitator. Her Masterclass Workshops are available to book (please see the contact form below), and include Pantomime performing, audition technique and song interpretation. 

Contact Me

Drop me a line!

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Susie McKenna

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  • Director
  • Writer Director
  • Actress
  • Pantomime
  • Educator

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