WHAT WE DO
Formed in 2013 by Creative Director Shane Shambhu, Altered Skin is an international multi-lingual physical theatre company that shares transcultural narratives through merging artforms and cultures from global perspectives.
As a pioneering company leading the way for a fresh, new theatrical exploration of the South Indian dance language of bharatanatyam. All our work is original and created through collaboration using a culturally different creative thinking leading to our unique approach to performance. Our distinct brand of humour and Indian dance inspired theatre taps into the imagination igniting creativity and inspiring empathetic thought.
WHO WE ARE
Shane Shambhu, Creative Director
Shane is a writer, theatre director and award winning choreographer. Drawing on his skills as an actor and dancer, he seamlessly integrates different artistic disciplines and languages. Shane brings a unique perspective to his creative practice, that stems from his embodied knowledge of the Indian performing art of bharatanatyam combined with his experience of contemporary theatre and participatory projects.
Shane is currently Artist In Residence at DanceXchange in Birmingham, Artistic Associate at Centre for Advanced Training’s South Asian dance strand Yuva Gati and Associate Lecturer at East 15 Acting School. He has previously collaborated with a range of companies and artists including Complicité, Shobana Jeyasingh Dance Company, Royal Opera House, Icon Theatre, Theatre Ad Infinitum and Menagerie Theatre.
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.