The Core Team
Basheba Baptiste
Consulting Producer
Bashiie is a producer and Multi-creative artist, specialising in artists development.
A Stage One Alumni Bashiie has been an Associate Producer on two West End transfers, Best of Enemies, by James Graham and Shifters by Benedict Lombe and has since used the knowledge gained to make and create work in a way that challenges conventional theatre making.
Bashiie has worked as a producer, facilitator and artist with theatres, venues and creative spaces and government run organisations across London and the wider UK including: The Bush Theatre, The Lyric Hammersmith, The Tom Thumb Theatre, the Young Vic, Talawa Theatre Company, Zooco Theatre Company, Peer Power UK and Company Three.
As the Artistic Director of Care to Culture C.I.C, Bashiie works with care experienced young people and those without a primary care giver, offering paid training, learning and development opportunities to artists that are otherwise ignored because of the perception of others.
Thea Melton
Associate Producer - The Rising Artist Talk Podcast
Submission Reader / Panelist - The Scratch
Thea is a multidisciplinary creative working mainly within producing, acting, research and photography. She trained at Mountview in MA Acting and previously studied Human Social and Political Science at The University of Cambridge. Blending these two backgrounds Thea is passionate about developing artistic work that explores and dissects socio-political theory and lived experiences.
Thea is currently a Young Associate at The Lyric Theatre Hammersmith and on the Youth Panel for Creative Youth Charity. Thea has worked on projects across creative mediums including screen, theatre, visual arts. She has been part of the Young Producers programme at Theatre Peckham, The Royal Court’s Methods of Writing group and has worked on projects at The Lyric, Southbank Centre, Jermyn Street Theatre, Cambridge Arts Theatre, Edinburgh Fringe, Nutopia and CamFM. She is currently preparing for a project at Bread and Roses Theatre with Daughters of Artemis.
Melodie Karczewski
Submission Reader / Panelist - The Scratch
I am a disabled writer originally from Thanet, Kent but now living in London. I love stories laced with humour and grit, inspired by truth and the shortfalls of our world. Recently, my 60-minute pilot episode 'Great Minds' was shortlisted for BAFTA Rocliffe. I'm also a BBC Welsh New voice!
Recently, I wrote, performed and directed a short play 'The Taste of Healing' at The Yard Theatre as part of the RWCMD New season. I completed the 3-year acting course there in 2023.
My extract is from a play I’m developing on the Reach programme for CRIPtic Arts entitled ‘Cremating the Phoenix’.
I haven't confirmed the last actor just yet so will get back to you soon.
Kieton Saunders-Browne
Artistic Director of Wooden Arrow
Kieton is a graduate from the Young Actors Theatre Islington and LAMDA (BA).
Writing Credits include Block'd Off (Pleasance London and Edinburgh 2022, Camden People's Theatre, Mustapha Matura Award Longlisted, Generate Fund Awarded), WoLab Actor-Writer Cohort 2019 (led by Alistair Wilkinson), All of the Lights (Kings Head Theatre), Lady and the Trap (Young Actors Theatre Islington), and Socks (Wooden Arrow Productions)
Acting credits include Frantic Assembly's The Unreturning (UK Tour, Anna Jordan), A View From The Bridge (Theatre Royal Bath/Theatre Royal Haymarket, Dominic West), Give Me Your Skin (Tommy Ross-Williams and Oonagh Murphy), Machinal (Orange Tree), You Me Bum Bum Train (West End), They Know Not What They Do (Che Walker and Michelle Inness), Why Am I So Single Workshop (Lucy Moss and Toby Marlow), and WW2 HOMEFRONT PARTY Immersive (Party Geek, Paul King). Film includes Lead in the Feature Film - 'Yes-Man' (Daniel Glenn-Barbour), RUNT (Jules Milan Barral), Monotropa (Jonathan Reid-Edwards and Kate Tuck), Pulling (Vicki Kisner), The Backseat (Miranda Howard-Williams) and Fuck The Boxes (Abel Rubinstein).
Kieton has also participated in groups such as the Young Vic’s Intro to Directing (Natalie Abrahami), Royal Court's Agitators, and is currently on the Almeida’s Youth Advisory Board.
He has a physical and stage combat background, having completed courses in Firearms, Aerial/Wire Flight, Motion Capture and various weapons, alongside practicing Tricking and Tumbling. He has also competed and won multiple WBU titles as a Semi-Professional Boxer and occasionally works as a Fight Director, revisiting LAMDA for Sucker Punch 2024 (Tramaine Trace), and on A View From The Bridge West End.
Represented by Roxane Vacca Management as an Actor
KIETON SAUNDERS-BROWNE (spotlight.com)
Alissia Di Cosmo
Marketing Manager and Administration
Submission Reader / Panelist - The Scratch
Alissia is an alumni of Nottingham’s Television Workshop, Open Door and a graduate of LAMDA (BA).
Acting credits include You Me Bum Bum Train (West End), Regrowth (Ethan Campbell), Star Signs (Benjamin Keir), The OAAW (Haider Zafar), Cubs (Gilbert Kyem Jr and James Harkness), ODD (Ben Johnson), Fossil (Eleanor Blackman), Rumspringa (Emma Cooney) and Why Am I So Single Workshop (Lucy Moss and Toby Marlow).
Alissia assisted Block’d Off as Production Assistant at The Pleasance London and Edinburgh 2022. She has recently began creating her own work, writing a comedy pilot ‘NANNYLAND’ and a comedy short ‘The Talent’.
Represented by Kate Borde Personal Management as an actor.
Danny Banks
Supporting Technical Operator - The Rising Artist Talk Podcast
My name is Danny, I've been in the Media Sector for 9 years now, I've worked on many projects from Music Videos, Sports Promos, Live Events, Short/Feature Films and Documentaries.
I love telling a story through the eye of the lense.
Jade Hassan
Associate Producer - The Scratch
Jade is a North London based facilitator, theatre maker and producer, with expertise in theatre and participation producing. Having originally trained as a theatre maker on Drama and Performance degree, she began producing her own work when she co-founded her theatre company, Ding for Disco, taking their debut show, Britney’s Peers, on a sold out tour around the South of England before a run at Brighton Fringe Festival. Following this, she was accepted onto the Almeida Theatre’s Young Producers Programme and the prestigious National Theatre’s ‘How To Be A Producer’ course to expand and solidify her knowledge.
Having worked with young artists in training on the BA Acting for Stage and Screen course at London South Bank University for the last 3 years, she is passionate about removing access barriers into the arts through working on a wide range of participation projects. Most recently she’s worked as a production assistant on the Almeida Theatre’s Young Company project, Against the Tide, and been a co-facilitator and lead administrator with New York Theatre Workshop on MIND THE GAP! an intergenerational project in collaboration with Southwark Playhouse Elders and LSBU students.
Elijah Lifton
Associate Producer - The Rising Artist Talk Podcast
Elijah is a young creative - an actor, writer, and producer. He is the co-director of Marigold Productions, and is excited to work alongside Kieton at Wooden Arrow Productions. Recent projects include 2.36 and Soultide at the Camden Fringe, Falling Berries, and a range of short films.
Writing credits include original works for the LAMDA MishMash Festival, Upstairs at the Gatehouse, Etcetera Theatre and The Libra Theatre Café, as well as short films and a miniseries.
Elijah speaks Mandarin, and is currently creating a pilot for 大鼻子在北京 (Big Nose in Beijing), a Chinese / English comedy series following a Westerner in China on a homestay and his mishaps.
Elijah is a graduate from LAMDA 2024, and is studying Theatre & Performance Studies at Bristol University.
Elijah has also assisted on the production teams at plays such as The Wanderers at the Marylebone Theatre, and as a director / actor, Elijah has observed Ola Ince at The Globe & assisted the company with The Crucible.
As a musician, Elijah achieved a Distinction in Grade 8 piano aged 13, and now holds a Diploma. Elijah is also a jazz saxophonist. In his spare time, Elijah is a competitive slalom-mono waterskier.
Represented by Smile Casting as an actor.
Kwame Addo
Lead Technical Operator - The Rising Artist Talk Podcast
Kwame is a passionate filmmaker whose storytelling journey began at age 10, inspired by the worlds of Shark Tale, Shrek, and countless trips to Blockbuster. Growing up in a modest household in Wellingborough, he was shaped by the creativity of his mother’s African culture-focused DVD shop and his father’s dedication as a chemist.
Now completing his Master’s in Filmmaking at the London Film Academy, Kwame has written and directed multiple short films, including The Interview, nominated for Best Short Film at the Nebula Film Festival, and The Divulgence. His work blends emotional authenticity with striking visual storytelling, drawing influence from directors like Zack Snyder, Ryan Coogler, and Spike Lee—storytellers whose work inspires him to create films that empower, connect, and challenge audiences.
An experienced camera operator and editor, Kwame is proficient in Adobe Premiere Pro, DaVinci Resolve, and colour grading, with a keen eye for composition and movement. His technical skill is matched by his ability to lead crews and shape narratives from script to screen.
Alongside filmmaking, Kwame teaches Film & TV at the Pauline Quirke Academy, inspiring the next generation of storytellers. His creativity also extends to TikTok, where his pop culture content has earned over 50 million views and invitations from Netflix to premieres for Rebel Moon, Despicable Me 4, and Argylle.
Through all his projects—whether in the classroom, on set, or online—Kwame’s mission is to connect with those who feel unseen, offering stories that resonate, empower, and inspire.