People

Born in 1970, Suzy Willson is a multi-award winning British choreographer and director. Over nearly three decades, she has created an extraordinary body of work that has pushed the boundaries of choreographic practice. 

Willson formed Clod Ensemble with Paul Clark in 1995 in order to create work with movement and music at its heart. She has subsequently made over twenty-five works for Clod Ensemble which have been presented in art galleries, theatres, dance houses and public spaces both across the UK and internationally. 

Willson’s work is provocative, uncompromising and finely crafted. From presenting the choral lament Silver Swan in Tate Modern’s vast Turbine Hall to staging the iconic Red Ladies across an entire city, Willson’s productions often encourage people to see familiar spaces from a new perspective.

Recurring themes include the chorus and collective movement, the ethics of care and medicine, architecture and the built environment, and the movement of natural phenomena. She is known for her collaborative style of performance-making and for valuing collaboration, dialogue, and diversity of experience and knowledge.

Willson’s approach questions inherited disciplines and hierarchies in the performers’ training, inviting multiple perspectives into the creation process and encouraging manifold interpretations from the audience. This vision has resulted in such genre-defying productions as gig/dance event The Black Saint and the Sinner Lady (‘the best use of audience participation I have ever seen’ the Guardian) and performance/installation Under Glass, created for Sadler’s Wells and described as ‘astonishing and unforgettable’ by the Scotsman, which featured performers contained within glass vitrines.

A powerful advocate for the importance of movement, music and the arts in our culture, Willson’s approach has inspired a generation of artists and choreographers to make performance work which crosses artforms, disciplines and sectors.

Willson is a pioneer in the area of arts, medicine and health. In 2006 she created the Performing Medicine initiative to encourage people working in healthcare to appreciate the choreographic, non-verbal and spatial dimensions of care. From 2003-2006 she was AHRC Artist Fellow at Queen Mary University where she later was awarded a PhD for her practice-based thesis ‘Performing Medicine’. She is currently Professor of Movement, Arts & Medicine at Queen Mary University Faculty of Medicine, where she leads on a variety of research projects. 

Willson is a regular contributor to journals and books on both performance and medicine, authoring articles in Dance Theatre, the Guardian, the Lancet, Performance Research and both the Routledge and Methuen edited collections.

Born in 1968, Paul Clark is a multi-award-winning British musician and educator. As Co-Artistic Director of Clod Ensemble he has written critically acclaimed original scores for almost all of the company’s productions to date.

Clark’s music explores the dissonances and consonances between different musical genres, practices and traditions. His work for Clod Ensemble has ranged from entirely acoustic works to multi-speaker installations. Each Clod Ensemble score is a bespoke composition created in dialogue with the visual material: Silver Swan is an a capella piece for seven classical singers; Under Glass features a surround-sound electroacoustic installation; An Anatomie in Four Quarters counterpoints electronics, live orchestral music and a rock band.

A leading composer on the British performance scene since the 1990s, Clark has scored dozens of productions both in the UK and internationally. He has written music for and with a hugely diverse range of musicians from across the musical spectrum – from opera superstar Renée Fleming to Grammy-winning producer Danger Mouse, Manchester Collective to The Fall’s Mark E. Smith.

Clark has a long-standing collaboration with theatre and opera director Katie Mitchell. He has written over thirty scores for Mitchell’s productions, including for acclaimed works such as Waves and Wunschkonzert and for performances staged at venues including the National Theatre, Berlin Schaubühne and Vienna’s Burgtheater.

He has twice worked with Samuel Beckett specialists Gare St Lazare Ireland. This relationship includes Clark co-creating Here All Night, staged at the Brighton Festival (2013), New York City’s Lincoln Centre (2018) and Dublin’s The Abbey (2018).

Further stage works include 2019’s Anne Carson’s Norma Jeane Baker of Troy at New York City’s The Shed, 2009’s The Weather Man with Leeds’ Opera North, 2005’s Liebeslied/My Suicides with Rut Blees Luxemburg at London’s ICA Gallery, and UK/US tours of Lois Weaver’s What Tammy Needs to Know. He has composed for TV/film productions by Simon Amstell, Arnaud Desplechin and John Michael McDonagh. Clark’s other notable works include scores for David Sedaris audio books, installations at the V&A Museum and composition for the 500th anniversary celebration of London’s Hampton Court Palace.

A leading voice around young peoples’ access to music education, Clark is the founder and leader of Ear Opener, Clod Ensemble’s inspirational project for music creators which combines a successful in-schools learning programme with a popular YouTube channel.

Roxanne is Clod Ensemble’s Executive Producer, working with the Artistic Directors to shape and deliver Clod Ensemble’s artistic programme across live performances, public events and participation. She leads on the strategic development of new partnerships and projects.

Roxanne studied Drama & Theatre Arts at University of Birmingham. She has worked across the live arts sector creating bold, impactful cultural programmes in venues, producing organisations and with independent artists including Fuel, The Old Vic, Tobacco Factory, Battersea Arts Centre, OperaUpClose, Theatre Royal Plymouth, 14-18 NOW.

Catherine Peters is the Executive Producer for Performing Medicine. She is responsible for Performing Medicine’s strategic vision. Catherine enjoys building partnerships and arts-based solutions which respond to workforce needs, health inequalities and cross-sector professional development.

After reading Modern Foreign Languages at Oxford University, Catherine was awarded a European bursary to study at the National Film & Television School’s Short Course Unit. Over the following ten years, Catherine went on to develop, produce and direct a wide range of broadcast and arts-funded films.

In 2007, Catherine founded an in-house film unit at EdComs, a leading educational communications agency. Work focused largely on young people’s health, curiosity and learning and was created for clients such as Wellcome, Public Health England, Sport England and the British Council. As Head of Film, Catherine led the team to win the prestigious ‘Evcom Production Company of the Year Award’ in 2015.

Joël is General Manager (Maternity Cover) until early summer of 2024.

Joël is an experienced arts administrator/manager and has worked with Shobana Jeyasingh Dance, Luca Silvestini’s Protein, Pavilion Dance South West and Sadler’s Wells. He studied clown in France and English at the University of Sussex. Joël has produced tours, festivals and site-specific work at different scales.

Fred joined Clod Ensemble in 2022 as Head of Communications. Prior to joining Clod Ensemble he spent several years working for the online record shop and music website Norman Records, first as a writer and subsequently as Features Editor. In a freelance capacity he has written about music, art and culture for publications including Vice, Bandcamp Daily, Bleep and Novara Media, and has worked with the Youth Music charity and the Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival.

Fred is also a musician and performer who has toured nationally and internationally. Through his projects ZoZo and M-G Dysfunction he has shared the stage with acts including The Bug, Micachu & the Shapes, Melt Yourself Down, Divide & Dissolve and Marie Davidson. His music has been covered by publications including the Guardian, the New Musical Express and Loud & Quiet.

Between 2014 and 2022 he was a member of the Leeds-based co-operatively run music venue and rehearsal space Chunk, serving on Chunk’s management committee between 2020 and 2022.

Shjodi joined Clod Ensemble in 2023 as Apprentice Digital Creator & Platform Coordinator.

Having completed her years at Big Creative Academy in London, Shjodi is aiming to apply her learning to bringing new and original ideas to the world of content creation. In addition to creating content, Shjodi is working extensively in developing and cataloguing Clod Ensemble’s archive.

Shjodi will be working with Clod Ensemble until the end of 2024 alongside apprenticeship provider Ginger Nut. By the end of the apprenticeship, Shjodi aims to have a well-rounded knowledge of communications and be on the way to creating professional material of her own.

Olivia Amory is our Head of Operations and Finance.

Olivia studied English at Bristol University before starting her career in arts administration. She has worked for the Independent Theatre Council (ITC), World Stages London, The Print Room and Shakespeare School Festival. She worked as an independent producer before joining Clod Ensemble in 2017 as General Manager.

Olivia is on maternity leave until mid-2024, with Joël Cottrell covering her duties until her return.

Claire has worked in the dance sector for over twenty-five years. She worked as a dancer and rehearsal director for the likes of Wayne McGregor, Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui, Theatre-Rites and Clod Ensemble before crossing over into producing and programming for Agudo Dance Company, Akram Khan Company, Nottingham Lakeside Arts and Sadler’s Wells Theatre.

Claire joined Clod Ensemble in 2022 as Learning & Participation Producer in order to develop the innovative Reboot, Ear Opener, Catalyser and Clod Intensive programmes. She currently works for the company on a freelance basis as a producer, rehearsal director and in learning & participation support.

She maintains a teaching practise and has made a significant contribution to health and wellbeing for dancers in company, studio and higher education settings. Claire looks forward to supporting many artists and young people in various areas of their professional development.

Pembe Tokluhan, a distinguished backstage professional with expertise in live audio, stage management, production, and tour coordination, is an award-winning multidisciplinary artist. Alongside her extensive experience in the entertainment industry, she has a background in youth work, public speaking, and diversity consultancy.

Previously employed as Clod Ensemble’s Production & Engagement Coordinator, Pembe is currently a Supporter Practitioner at Clod Ensemble. She is the visionary founder of Petok Productions, a production company dedicated to recognising and showcasing the contributions of women, trans, and non-binary individuals working behind the scenes, screens, and lenses. Pembe is also the co-founder of Generation Uncovered, an informal association fostering collaboration among young composers, vocalists, musicians, performers, producers, promoters, technicians, and digital media creators dedicated to creative practice and pursuing careers in the creative and cultural industries.

Pembe’s client list includes Nile Rodgers & Chic, Windrush Festival, Don Papa and many more. In 2022 she received both the Youth Music Social Action Award and the Baton Awards Creative Industries accolade.

Damsel Elysium (Djenaba Davis-Eyo) joined Clod Ensemble in 2021 as Music and Sound Creator on the Jerwood Arts Bursary Scheme. They are currently one of Clod Ensemble’s supported artists.

Damsel Elysium is a multi-instrumentalist, composer, experimental sound and visual artist. They use double bass, violin and original sounds to explore alternative communication and connections with space and nature. Damsel Elysium utilises multidisciplinary skills in sound and visual art in both their work with Clod Ensemble and their own work.

Damsel Elysium’s work has been released by the AD 93 record label and they have performed at the London Southbank Centre’s Purcell Room, Cafe OTO and Le Guess Who festival. They have received coverage from publications such as Vogue and have collaborated with artists including FKA twigs.

Carly joined Performing Medicine in 2016 as Programme Manager and Associate Artist. She is involved in planning, designing and facilitating arts-based training for healthcare professionals and medical students working with a team of associate artists.

She has over twenty years’ experience in the dance sector of pioneering and leading participatory dance interventions with marginalised groups, with a focus on transformation including working extensively in criminal justice and mental health both in the UK and internationally. Carly is interested in the impact of the arts in improving people’s lives, health and wellbeing.