The team
The project values knowledge and skills from both academic and non-academic colleagues and the team structure aims to reflect this.
Our team is made up of a group of researchers, project managers, arts organisations and community partners in Kenya, Uganda and UK.
Project founder
Professor Jane Plastow
Communication and Creativity was founded and delivered by the late Professor Jane Plastow from 2023 to 2025.
Professor Plastow was the inspiration and lead for this project and enabled the coming together of the research team, partners and communities.
Read more about Jane’s revered contribution to the field of performance and African Theatre.
Professor Plastow was the inspiration and lead for this project and enabled the coming together of the research team, partners and communities.
Read more about Jane’s revered contribution to the field of performance and African Theatre.
Researchers
Dr Matthew Elliott
Principal Investigator
University of Leeds, United Kingdom
University of Leeds, United Kingdom
Dr Lillian Mbabazi
Co-Investigator
Makerere University, Uganda
Makerere University, Uganda
Dr Simon Peter Otieno
Co-Investigator
University of Nairobi, Kenya
University of Nairobi, Kenya
Dr Kirrily Pells
Co-Investigator
UCL Social Research Institute, United Kingdom
UCL Social Research Institute, United Kingdom
Project management team
Brenda Mawerere
Project Manager
We are Walukuba Community Centre, Uganda
We are Walukuba Community Centre, Uganda
Faith Otieno
Project Manager
Kisumu County, Kenya
Kisumu County, Kenya
Fiona Blair
Project Manager
University of Leeds, United Kingdom
University of Leeds, United Kingdom
Arts partners
Our arts partners work alongside us on projects with local communities in Kisumu County (Kenya), Jinja (Uganda) and Lincoln Green in East Leeds (United Kingdom).
Arts Applied Uganda
Arts Applied Uganda is a non-profit, non-political, non-sectarian performing, creative and visual arts company; committed to providing a platform for the inspiration and empowerment of marginalized communities.
Equator Ensemble
Equator Ensemble are a Kenyan applied arts organisation based in Kisumu, formed out of previous research projects.
Mafwa Theatre
Mafwa Theatre is theatre company that uses drama and the arts to bring together refugees, asylum seekers and settled communities in Leeds, England.