THE COMPANY

Formed in 2013 by Creative Director, Shane Shambhu Altered Skin was founded initially as a vehicle for Shane’s creative works. Over time and experiences the company’s ideas and values have shifted where the company represents diasporic voices and gives space to contemporary theatre from non-Eurocentric perspectives.

Artist Statement:

“Growing up in the east end of London within a rich multicultural backdrop the internal struggle of finding belonging led me to explore how bharatanatyam, a traditional artistic discipline, could translate my feelings of multiple belongings.

Following this exploration my practice builds connection between cultures and languages through play, bouncing ideas off the principles of bharatanatyam to discover spaces of hybrid existence with collaborators. A shared space of belonging and not belonging, a place where my identities are constantly in relation to those around me.” – Shane Shambhu

 

WHO WE ARE

Shane Shambhu, Creative Director

Shane Shambhu is a multidisciplinary performer, performance maker, writer and curator. Born in London to Keralan parents via Singapore his artistic journey began at the age of 10 learning bharatanatyam (South-Indian performing artform).

He has had a varied performing career working with BBC TV & Radio, Complicite, Royal Opera House, Shobana Jeyasingh Dance Company, Icon Theatre, Menagerie Theatre, Theatre Ad Infinitum, Vayu Naidu, Choman Hardi and Nigel Planer.

His inquiring mind led him to a research period with Dr. Mark Hamilton (Regents University) followed by the creation of his successful production Confessions Of A Cockney Temple Dancer. With a tour of India with British Council imminent the pandemic brought this to a halt and Shane altered plans creating a new solo production Fatherhood. Both these productions have toured widely nationally, and internationally.

Shane was Movement Director for Conundrum (Young Vic), Game of Love & Chai (Tara Arts), Axiom of Choice by Prof. Marcus Du Sautoy, Co-Director and Movement Director for Outside The Box (Commonwealth Games 2022), Artistic Director for Hebridean Treasure (Scotland), and curated BrownTangle for Akademi.

His practice has been shared as Associate Lecturer at East 15 Acting School and at talks and presentations at Grotowski Institute, Poland, Les Reperages, Brazil, Goldsmiths College, Centre for Asian Theatre & Dance, Centre on Dynamics of ethnicity and forms part of the Old Vic’s Inside guide to Physical Theatre.

Shane is a Bonnie Bird Choreography Award winner, Birmingham REP Foundry Alumni and was selected as one of OneDanceUK’s Future Leaders.

 

Sarah-Jane Watkinson, Producer

Sarah-Jane originally studied Theatre Design at Birmingham Polytechnic, now Birmingham City University. After working for several years as a freelance designer and workshop leader mainly in community and education settings, she gradually shifted into work as a producer and arts manager, working with companies such as Women & Theatre, The Play House theatre in education, Sampad South Asian Arts and China Plate Theatre. 

As well as Altered Skin, she also works with Spanish theatre companies Sleepwalk Collective and Little Soldier Productions and solo artist Paul O’Donnell. She’s also a board member of the Independent Theatre Council, the management association for the independent theatre sector.