Synergy announces new associates

Artistic Director Esther Baker: “We’ve been building partnerships across theatre, prison and education for over 20 years and worked with thousands of people with lived experience of the criminal justice system. Synergy is ambitious to produce more new plays that speak to universal concerns and challenge the public perception of criminal justice. We have set up a diverse group of talented artists to initiate and unlock creative projects that will fuel our artistic programme. Over the next year they will be at the heart of our work, opening up new opportunities with their voices, skills and networks.”

Daniel Bailey is a Director, Dramaturg and Writer for stage and screen. He is currently Associate Artistic Director at the Bush Theatre and previous roles include Associate Artist at Theatre Royal Stratford East and Resident Assistant Director at The Finborough Theatre.

Milli Bhatia is an internationally acclaimed Director and Dramaturg from East London. She has been an Associate Director at The Royal Court Theatre and Resident Assistant Director at Birmingham Rep.

Jade Lewis is a writer, director and theatre maker based in South London. Jade has been an Associate Director at Theatre503 and recent directing credits include SleepOva at The Bush, Superhoe at the Royal Court. For Synergy, Jade is directing FOLLOWERS by Sonali Bhattacharya, a new play about friendship, influencers, misogyny and harm.

Stef O’Driscoll is a director and advocate for intersectional class diversity. Stef’s previous roles include Interim Artistic Director at The Gate,  Artistic Director of Nabokov and Associate Director at Paines Plough and the Lyric Hammersmith. For Synergy, Stef will be directing a new production at HMP Downview women’s prison.

Evan Placey is a Canadian-British playwright and screenwriter who lives in London, UK and was named on the Brit List 2022.  Theatre writing includes Girls Like That (Birmingham REP, West Yorkshire Playhouse & Plymouth Theatre Royal; Synergy/Unicorn), Consensual (NYT/West End) and Pronoun (National Theatre). For Synergy, Evan has written a new play about our aging population in prison that we are looking to produce.