Who We Are
Our Team
Awakening Theatre Company Ltd.
Is a new, vibrant and whimsical, 21 Century, Theatre Company. Based in London and made up of multicultural, multi-talented, bi-lingual, performers who speak and perform in English and Arabic.
The company researches, devises and develops work for chosen venues, and occasions. Their productions aim to illustrate the independence and interdependence of culture, art, and heritage through the exploration of the human condition. Scripted scenes are interspersed with physical theatre, song, poetry and dance, to create theatre experiences which awaken the senses. The company also creates performance art installations for museums, art galleries and other venues.
Our aim is to create theatre which brings to life inherited artwork from diverse cultures and eras, transcending boundaries and enhancing the experience of visual art and heritage.
Our mission
Let’s start with people
Jane-Ann Heffernan
Founder Creator of AWT
Biography:
Jane-Ann Heffernan, director/playwright
Jane-Ann is an established British theatre director and playwright. She worked in theatre and television internationally as a performer choreographer and director. She took her BA degree in Theatre Arts at Rose Bruford College of Theatre and Performance and went on to study at The London Mime Centre. She worked and studied in Paris, the art of Corporeal mime, and Jaques Le Coq technique. While there she formed her own dance/mime troupe ‘The Hi-Brids’ working in Paris, London and Scandinavia. She went on to train as a teacher in theatre arts and moved to Jordan to work in theatre in education under HRH Prince Hassan Bin Talal. While working there, she staged and directed plays by ; Shakespeare, Moliere, Lorca, Ibsen, Wilde and Williams as well as writing several original dramas and two musicals.
Jane-Ann recently returned to London after two years in the UAE. Awakenings company specialises in theatre for museums, galleries, art spaces and theatre. ‘Art Awakenings, Histories of the Human Heart’ is currently in pre-production stage. Jane-Ann is passionate about the power of theatre to inspire and emotionally move audiences, through unforgettable theatrical storytelling.
Sofia Danu
UK Assistant creative producer
Biography:
Sofia Danu, Assistant creative producer also best known as an international actress. Sofia made her Television debut in BBC’s Silent Witness Identity 2014, she recently finished filming as the role of Dinah in Terrence Malick’s upcoming film. Her first leading role in feature film Inside Fay’s Closet coming out in 2021 RedSeaFest. Directed by Anas Batahaf. Sofia has performed as the lead in the play A Land Without Jasmine with Sarha Collective London at the Battersea Arts Centre, and also performed in the three pointer play Now Here & In-between written and directed by Jasad Theatre Company Jordan, she also performed in various plays across the UK, including Theatre Libre’s version of Salome. at The Space Theatre, London. Co founder of Dead Iconics theatre graduate company.
Her previous training includes:
-Rose Bruford College, European Theatre Arts, 3 years, 2012-2015, BA (Hons).
-Lee Strasberg Institute Acting, short course New York, 2016
-Erasmus trained at Real Escuela Superior Del Arte Dramatico. Acting school Madrid – Spain, 2014
-Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music & Dance, summer intensive course, 2014
-University of arts London Central Saint Martins. Acting summer course, 2011
Sofia enjoys training regularly in the martial art, Capoeira.
Sameera Asir
Assistant Director
Biography:
Sameera Asir is an established theatre actor and director with 10 years experience on international stages. She recently represented Jordan in the Cairo Theatre Festival 2021 with her adaption of Cage Birds. Sameera has 5 years of theatre in education experience working on outreach programs for the Jordanian government. She is currently working in London as the assistant director, for the musical Kan Ya Kaman, Westend, run by Saudi ministry of culture.
She is a graduate of the Lebanese American University.
Abdelaziz Rashid
Script Translator/ Arabic language Advisor/ Cultural Sensitivity Advisor
Biography:
Abdelaziz is a novelist and screenwriter, he currently works as an Arabic Specialist/ teacher trainer for Alef Education company in Abu Dhabi UAE. He has also worked as head of Arabic for schools and colleges in Jordan and Dubai as well as working as a writer for the educational media company Menhaj. He is the Arabic advisor and translator for the play ‘Art Awakenings’ by Jane-Ann Heffernan.
Shaun McEnery
Dance Choreographer
Biography:
Shaun McEnery is a Professional Choreographer, teacher and ballroom dancer. He has appeared on television in Lebanon, in ‘Dancing with the Stars’ and numerous times on British TV in various ballroom dance programs. He specializes in Latin American Ballroom Dances and street partner dance styles like the Argentine Tango, Salsa, Mambo, Hustle, Lindy hop & Bolero. He recently choreographed and acted in a new upcoming Bollywood Feature Film 2020, “Time to Dance”.