The New Work and Artist Development team was launched in November 2023, with the aim of developing craft and building community.
The department is artist-led, meaning each member of the team has their own artistic practice. This helps the department to be responsive to the needs of our fellow artists in the West Midlands.
Sophia Griffin leads the New Work and Artist Development department. The work of the team is informed by artists and their focus is on developing craft and building community.
As a proud Brummie, Sophia is pleased to offer a regular programme specifically for local artists. She is particularly interested in creating spaces where artists can explore their practice and where process is as important as the end result.
Prior to working at the Hippodrome, Sophia worked across different sectors in project management and business development and as a freelance facilitator, host and consultant.
Sophia is also a writer and theatremaker and co-founder of Writer’s Block, a scratch night for artists to test out early ideas for the stage. She is currently working on a new show co-produced by Belgrade Theatre and Bush Theatre, opening later this year. Other writing experience includes, Birmingham REP Foundry, Bush Theatre EWG, SeaView, in collaboration with Belgrade Theatre and Strictly Arts Theatre Company and BBC Writer’s Room.
Maria-Magdalena Mineva is a theatremaker and actress from Bulgaria. She graduated with a First Class integrated Masters in Theatre at the University of Worcester. As part of theatre company Arch SixtyTwo, she co-wrote and performed in FLIP and was a producer on GOOD GRIEF! and KIN. She worked closely with artists as an Assistant Producer for The Arches Festivals, before becoming part of Stage One’s national producer placement scheme and joining Birmingham Hippodrome. As a trainee producer she supported TO THE STREETS! (China Plate and Birmingham Hippodrome), THE COLOR PURPLE (Curve and Birmingham Hippodrome) and PEAKY BLINDERS: THE REDEMPTION OF THOMAS SHELBY (Rambert and Birmingham Hippodrome).
She’s interested in new writing, fantasy, LGBTQ+ work, European theatre and loves a Greek tragedy. Maria-Magdalena is passionate about creating and nourishing an artistic community in the West Midlands, and as part of her coordinator role in the New Work & Artist Development team, looks after the Hippodrome Creatives community, supporting and welcoming artists of the region into the Hippodrome.
Anna Himali Howard is a director, theatremaker and dramaturg from Birmingham. She trained on the Birmingham REP Foundry, as a Paines Plough Trainee Director, on the NT Studio Directors’ Programme and the Royal Opera House Directors’ Course. Anna has been an Associate Artist at Brixton House and a visiting tutor on MA Dramaturgy at Birkbeck. Anna was Senior Reader at the Royal Court and is a reader for several theatres and awards. She is interested in new writing, collaborative creation and working across genres to uproot classic texts.
Anna’s work as a Director includes THE SECRET GARDEN co-created by Holly Robinson and Anna (Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre), GRACELAND by Ava Wong Davies (Royal Court), ORPHEUS (Opera North), KABUL GOES POP by Waleed Akhtar (Brixton House), I STAND FOR WHAT I STAND ON (Strike A Light, COP26), INSIDE (Orange Tree Theatre), I WANNA BE YOURS by Zia Ahmed (Paines Plough/Bush Theatre), YOURS SINCERELY by Will Jackson (Birmingham REP), A SMALL PLACE by Jamaica Kincaid and Season Butler (Gate Theatre), ALBATROSS by Isley Lynn for NEW (RWCMD/Paines Plough/Gate Theatre).