In The Wings
Helen Alexander
Artistic Director & Playwright
Helen trained, initially in Theatre Design, at WIMBLEDON SCHOOL OF ART, and Post Graduate Acting, at THE DRAMA STUDIO LONDON, where she subsequently taught, and directed. Her varied career has included a wide range of theatre skills, but has focused for three decades, on teaching and directing in adult Drama Schools –
THE DRAMA STUDIO, LAPA, ACTORS’ INSTITUTE, ITALIA CONTI & THE ACADEMY DRAMA SCHOOL Her specialisms are (Spolin) Improv, Voice & Text, Shakespeare and Commedia.
She’s directed over 30 productions, including one third of the Bard’s canon, many of those, with cross-cast or ‘regendered’ characters, to fairly represent and challenge the plentiful female cast members in student groups and the industry.
Her directing credits include: THE TWO GENTLEMEN OF VERONA, MUCH ADO, AS YOU LIKE IT, ALL’S WELL, MERCHANT OF VENICE, MERRY WIVES OF WINDSOR, WINTER’S TALE, OTHELLO, COMEDY OF ERRORS, JULIA CAESAR, LOVE’S LADIES LOST, KING JOHN & ROMEA AND JULIUS.
THE ROVER Aphra Behn, LOVE FOR LOVE William Congreve & MAN OF MODE George Etheredge.
THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING ERNEST Oscar Wilde, PILLARS OF THE COMMUNITY Henrik Ibsen, THE ELDEST SON John Galsworthy, & SAINT JOAN Bernard Shaw.
THIS HAPPY BREED Noel Coward & TIME AND THE CONWAYS J.B. Priestley.
OUR COUNTRY’S GOOD Timberlake Wertenbaker, MY SISTER IN THIS HOUSE Wendy Kesselman, SUMMER OF THE SEVENTEENTH DOLL Ray Lawler, A SMALL FAMILY BUSINESS Alan Ayckbourn ICARUS RISING Nick Eisen, A PACK OF LIES Hugh Whitemore, THE BIRTHDAY PARTY Harold Pinter, & GENTLE JACK Robert Bolt.​
Helen has been a stealth writer for years. It’s taken the captivity of a pandemic to realise her niggling craving to create the first female-centric Shakespeare sequel ‘THE WEYARD SISTERS’ and the next instalment, ‘THE WEYARD DAUGHTERS’, is underway.
She’s a proud and committed vegan feminist, who loves cats, planet Earth and awesome Sci-fi.
Dana Pinto
Designer
Dana Pinto pursued her education in Theatre Design at WIMBLEDON SCHOOL OF ART and completed her MASTERS IN SCENOGRAPHY at BIRMINGHAM INSTITUTE OF ART. With a rich background in the arts, Dana has worked as a Set and Costume Designer and a Lecturer in the arts, including Scenic Construction and Scenic Painting while also having written notable qualifications in Production Arts for E/P.
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Designs include:- SOUL SIKHER (Watermans), AMAZONIA (Bridewell), PROTEST (Old Vic), NITRO (Queen Elizabeth Hall at Southbank), ONE DANCE WILL DO (Theatre Royal, Stratford East).
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Furthermore, Dana assumes the role of MANAGING EDITOR UK with THE SCENOGRAPHER, overseeing the production of monographic magazines and books spotlighting distinguished Theatre Designers and Directors from around the world. She is also the Founder of the SCHOOL OF SCENOGRAPHY, an initiative aimed at inspiring and supporting individuals contemplating a career in scenography and those venturing into entrepreneurial endeavours within the field. Moreover, Dana serves as a Committee Member for THE SOCIETY OF BRITISH THEATRE DESIGNERS, further contributing to the advancement of the industry.
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Dana and Helen first worked together when Dana designed and sourced the set for THIS HAPPY BREED by Noel Coward at THE MAN IN THE MOON THEATRE.
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‘Spot on costumes and set design’ ALEXIA LOUNDRAS – TIME OUT
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She also designed the location set for Adam Owen’s short film LOVE FOR LOVE, directed by Helen.
