Jay Zorenti-Nakhid

He/Him

I am a Facilitator & Director Based between Birmingham and Coventry. I've been lucky to have worked in a wide variety of places around the UK and the world. I believe in creating space for unheard voices and counter-narratives in any shape or form. I am passionate about collaboration and kindness underpinning every working process (and life!).

I truly believe that art and specifically theatre can be a defining catalyst in creating social change and there are two quotes that I feel summarise my general practice

“ Let the world change you and then you can change the world”

“Art is not a mirror held up to reality, but a hammer with which to shape it”

Credits

Current
Associate Director
The Belgrade Theatre


Previous

Associate Director
Tobacco Factory Theatres

Regional Theatre Young Directors Scheme 18 months Resident Assistant director- Tobacco Factory Theatres/ September 2019- October 2021

Director// Darknet// Bristol School of acting// Tobacco Factory Theatres//2023

Dramaturg//Echoe eternal// Birmingham Opera company// New street Station// 2023

Director//Revealed// Tobacco Factory Theatres //September-October//2022

Director//Shook/Royal Welsh School of Music and drama// February 2022

Director/ The Little things/ Tobacco Factory Theatres/ Film/2021

Director/ Navajos/ Tobacco Factory Theatres/ April 2020
** Cancelled at late stage -COVID 19**

Director/Let it Break/Kigali Genocide Memorial Centre/ Ubumuntu Arts Festival/July 2019

Director/Revealed/macbirmingham/April 2019

Director/Grimeboy/Birmingham REP/ February 2019

Director/Little Baby Jesus/ Birmingham REP/ 2018

Director/ The Cage ( Enter stage write, competition) / Birmingham REP/2017


Assistant Director/ R&D The Snow Queen/ NIE theatre & Cambridge Junction & Tobacco Factory Theatres/ 2021

Assistant Director/The Snow Queen/ NIE theatre & Cambridge Junction & Tobacco Factory Theatres/ 2020 (Digital Film)

Assistant Director/(R&D) The Snow Queen/ NIE theatre & Cambridge Junction /2020

Assistant Director/Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf/Tobacco Factory Theatres & Wiltshire Creative / 8 weeks/ 2020

Assistant Director/Snow White/Tobacco Factory Theatres /12 weeks/2019-2020

The Boys Project:The Undergrowth/ The Royal court / 2017

SELECTED FACILITATING & DIRECTING PROJECTS

2021: Women And Theatre
Working with another facilitator providing training sessions for Staff in medium secure mental health facility


2020: Theatre Royal Stratford East Creative Activism program
In partnership with co- director Madeliene Kludje delivered a week long online process to create a short film around creative activism with YP 16-21.

2020: Regional Theatre Young Directors Scheme (RTYDS)- Intro to Directing online
Co- Lead with Sameena Hussain an online course for RTYDS.

2019: Open Theatre
Delivered non verbal workshops in a number of the company's partner special education schools.


2019: Women And Theatre- Tamarind Centre - Birmingham + Solihull Mental Health Trust
Working with another Facilitator ran sessions in a medium Secure facility with service users.

2018 Women And Theatre - HMP Birmingham (Winson Green) - Theatre Practitioner
I worked with another facilitator to deliver Theatre workshops with inmates on the Mental Health ward in Winson Green Prison.

2018 -Echoes of the Estate (Commission) Birmingham Repertory Theatre- Artist/ Director
I worked with the Welsh House Farm estate in Birmingham to create a new piece of theatre made by, with and for the community there. I worked there for 9 months building a strong relationship with the community eventually Co-creating, Co-writing and directing a piece of site specific theatre in partnership with residents that led a Carnival procession and we also devised a piece of theatre with local residents that was performed in a back garden. (18+)

2018- Theatre For Democracy - Ikon gallery & Free Radical/ Beatfreeks collective & St Basils- Facilitator/Director
I worked with Ikon Art Gallery and St Basils ( a housing association / charity for young people) to devise a new piece of work with young people at risk of homelessness. The piece was a multidisciplinary piece that was performed in Ikon Galleries main Gallery space. (16-21)

2017-2019 Worcester Arts Partnership & Probation Services -Theatre Practitioner
I devised a drama programme with the aim of reducing the long term offending rates amongst service users. I delivered weekly workshops with participants that culminated in various sharing events.


2016: The Boys Project-Bryony Kimmings Ltd/ MAC Birmingham-Local Facilitator
I supported and mentored 12 young men from Birmingham as they participated in a National Project with artist Bryony Kimmings , I would convene the group in Birmingham to run creative workshops with them and accompany them around the country to the partner venues Leeds playhouse,The Lowry, Roundhouse London, The Royal court and Cardiff Millenium centre. (18-25)


2013 -Study Hall Education Foundation (Lucknow, India)

With a partner I worked with over 300 participants from 3 different schools within the Study Hall Education Foundation. The project used theatre to discuss and explore current social issues within Lucknow, India; the participants created and performed their own work. The project culminated in 3 different performance events to an audience of teachers and community peers.(11-19)

2013 Oasis Academy Oldham –Artist in Residence
I worked delivering 14 workshops a week within the school aimed at using theatre to reduce challenging behaviour within the school.(11-16)

2013 Oasis Academy Oldham Facilitator/ Director
"Oasis Academy theatre company project"
I worked with male students who had extremely challenging behaviour. The aim was for the young people was to explore their role in society and reflect on their behaviour as well as developing their theatre skills through weekly workshops. I also ran workshops with staff within the school to gain insight and perspective. The project culminated in a performance event created and shaped by the young people. (12-13)

2012 Theatre For Democracy- LIPA & Knowsley council -Co Director/ Facilitator
With fellow Director Samuel Erskine I worked in collaboration with a housing association on an intergenerational project to devise a piece of theatre highlighting issues in the borough of Huyton in Knowsley, Merseyside. The piece was performed to an audience of community leaders, Police and councilors. (18-24 & 55+)


2011 The Moving Project: Undiscovered -Facilitator & Assistant Director
I worked with a team of facilitators and a group of young people in Liverpool deemed 'NEET' to adapt A Midsummers Nights Dream as part of an international project culminating in a collaborative performance event with communities from Spain and Italy.(16-24)

Training

2016 - 2017:Birmingham Repertory Theatre –Foundry

2010-2013 LIPA BA Community Drama
( Special award for Facilitation)