Creative Team

Abi Falase

Writer | Director

Abi Falase is multidisciplinary artist, writer and director, reimagining fundamental societal concepts in inventive new worlds. Describing their work, Abi says, “I write what I like to call 'Feel Good Social Realism', I wrap big political and societal discussions about everything from race and gender to faith and sexuality in pockets of comedy, because if you don't laugh, you'll cry.”

Tom Victor | Charlie

Actor

Tom Victor was propelled into the spotlight straight out of drama school when he starred as Archie in Channel 4’s powerful but provocative drama ‘Consent’ in 2023.  He played a high-flying student who is accused of rape when things get out of hand at a party.

His lead performance in Consent impressed many critics, with The Guardian praising the “performances of the young cast, particularly newcomer Victor. He makes Archie believable as – simultaneously – a confused, fearful child and a dangerously self-pitying man.”

This was followed in 2024 by another major role, playing John Villiers, Viscount Purbeck, in Sky Atlantic’s “magnificent” historical drama series, ‘Mary & George’.  He starred alongside Julianne Moore, who played his mother, in the series which dramatised the story of the Villiers family, favourites of King James I in the 17th Century. Again, his performance was singled out by The Guardian who called it a “lovely, heartbreaking turn”.

Tom originates from Plymouth, Devon and speaks with a neutral accent, but can easily slip into a West Country accent.

Déja Bowens | Chi

Actor

Déja is a singer and actor, best known for playing Vita in Champion (BBC/Netflix), which earned her an MOBO award nomination and won a Royal Television Society Midlands award. She trained at Mountview, and also appeared as Mamie in Marys Seacole at the Donmar Warehouse.

Mohamed Bangura | Kam

Actor

Mohamed Bangura would say he is privileged that for the last 2/3 years, work has been steady, varied and all exciting. From the people he’s met, the work created and all the bits in between and offstage he’s been privileged to have worked and collaborated with some truly amazing artists.

From taking to the Almeida stage in ‘Anthem’ (also directed by the Amazing Abi Falase) a show with work written from emerging black writers, created and performed by a predominantly black cast and crew, to the UK tour of ‘Bugsy Malone’ as Leroy the Boxer and more recently understudying the roles of Obsidian & Pitch in Ryan Calais Cameron’s ‘For Black Boys’ in its most recent west end run.

Rift was a personally and creatively nourishing piece to work on with a room that can make you cry with laughter one minute, invoked in deep thought the next and then tugging on your heart strings. He’s excited for it to be heard by many.

Ashling O’Shea | Ella

Actor

Ashling O’Shea is a queer actor of Sri Lankan Tamil and Irish heritage. Her television credits include Hollyoaks (Channel 4), in which she portrayed Nadira Valli, series lead Rumi Joshi in the BBC/Netflix series Rebel Cheer Squad: A Get Even Series and most recently Ursula Wilson in The Crow Girl (Paramount+). Theatre credits include The Lesson (Theatre 503), Andromeda (Nottingham Playhouse) and Eris (The Bunker). Her next project will be Puppy at King’s Head Theatre in April 2025.

Pia Rose Scattergood

Composer, vocalist and producer

Pia is a London-based composer, vocalist and producer. She has crafted sound designs for the Almeida Theatre, Royal Central School of Speech and Drama and Company 3, and has composed music for ensembles including Britten Sinfonia, Ligeti Quartet and the Orkest de Ereprijs.

Her performance highlights span global venues like the Shanghai Symphony Hall and the Sagrada Família, as well as the acclaimed London Jazz Festival.

Alongside her creative work, Pia is a festival coordinator specialising in accessibility, programming and community outreach. She was also recently selected to participate in Spitalfields Music's Trainee Trustee Scheme for 2025.

Pia was awarded a Masters in Composition with Distinction from the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in 2022, having previously read Music at the University of Cambridge.

Kayode Gomez

Sound Engineer | Designer

Kayode’s work as a sound designer spans exhibitions, audio plays, radio production, scoring/audio editing for short films, and live theatre. Their previous credits include Decolonising the Archive Live Radio, and Scooters, Shooters & Shottas (Gate Theatre).

They also DJ as a part of the Black queer collective AltBlax , who you can hear monthly on Oroko Radio.

Nadya Bettioui

Schools Consultant

Nadya is a freelance Schools Consultant with a specialism in Drama & Theatre education. She works with a range of theatres and organisations to design and develop projects to support educators and students, using the power of the arts to develop life skills and artistic expression. She is a former Secondary School Teacher and has previously worked with Immediate Theatre to develop and run youth projects in the community and in schools. She has enjoyed working with Immediate Theatre again to produce the Drama & PSHE schools resources for Rift.

Jason Coleman

Teacher's Resource Designer

A highly imaginative and seasoned Creative Director with over 30 years of expertise in brand communication, Jason combines entrepreneurial vision with a deep understanding of brand evolution and marketing strategy. His extensive experience spans the entire creative process – from ideation to execution – across diverse product lines and market sectors.

Jason began his career as a Global Designer at Reuters before rapidly advancing within London’s vibrant creative industry. His journey led him to the role of Creative Director at one of London’s leading brand development agencies.

Taiwo Ava Oyebola

Production Assistant

Taiwo is an interdisciplinary artist, whose work focuses on historically overlooked communities. They’ve previously written for The Almeida and Theatre 503, and have directed projects for North Wall and The Pleasance.