Madeleine Farnhill – Artistic Director/Writer
Madeleine is Black Bright’s Artistic Director as well as a writer and actor from Yorkshire. She studied MA Drama Writing at Bristol Old Vic Theatre School, for which an excerpt of her signature script Stag was performed at the Weston Studio at Bristol Old Vic, directed by Natalie Simone.
The Hunger is her first play. Her second play How to Get to Eudemonia was commissioned for the MA Directors Showcase at Mountview. Playing the role of Megan in the 2023 Edinburgh Fringe production, this was her second time performing at the Festival. At the 2019 Fringe, she played ‘Zoe’ in the original dark comedy My Mate Dave Died for a month-long run. Since then she has acted on both stage and screen alongside writing.
As an actor and a writer, Madeleine is passionate about regional, female-led stories and dark, unusual female characters. She is currently a member of The Bank Cohort at Sheffield Theatres.
Helen Denning – Producer/Company Manager
Helen is a founding member of Black Bright Theatre Company, as well as the Producer and Company Manager. Originally from Birmingham, she is now a producer, arts administrator and creative based in Sheffield.
Helen trained as an actor at Birmingham Conservatoire (formerly Birmingham School of Acting). Drawn to the largest theatre circuit outside of London, Helen then studied at the University of Sheffield. Here she earned her first producing credit on the 24 Hour Musical of Grease, and since then has independently produced The Hunger twice for its debut Sheffield run and a Northern tour.
Helen completed an Audience Traineeship at Sheffield Theatres in 2022, before embarking on a year-long post at Wakefield Theatre Royal as Press and Communications Officer. Most recently she completed a freelance role as Social Media Manager for Creative Wakefield. Helen is passionate about producing regional, female-led and independent theatre, acting as a jack of all trades in almost every aspect of theatre-making, from acting and directing to tech operating. She is currently a member of The Bank Cohort at Sheffield Theatres.
Ultimately, Black Bright is a partnership project and we work together very closely on all elements of Black Bright. We believe communication between creatives is the most important part of any endeavour, and share this ethos with everybody we work with on shows.
Black Bright Theatre. 