Our people
Emilia Teglia is Artistic Director and founder of Odd Eyes Theatre. She has written and directed the majority of the company’s productions for stage and screen. An advocate for diversity as a philosophy of life, her mission is to create opportunities for exchange through playful, honest communication between people from every background, age and walk of life.
Emilia Teglia was nominated by The Big Issue in the Top 100 changemakers for her positive contribution to a better society through the arts.
After training in Stanislavski-based acting techniques in Italy and London, Emilia travelled Europe working in theatres of all scales and scopes, from Teatro dell’ Opera Donizzetti in Bologna to public squares and festivals.
Then her life took a bad turn. As a young woman, she found herself dealing with mental health issues, domestic violence and addiction. Whilst selling the Big Issue during an (un)fortunate spell of homelessness in London, she got to know Cardboard Citizens and was lucky enough to train with Augusto Boal, founder of Theatre of the Oppressed. It was the beginning of a new life as she experienced first-hand the power of theatre to create personal and social change.
Odd Eyes Theatre was born from Emilia’s experience with Augusto Boal, matured over the course of her BA Theatre Studies and MA in Cultural History degrees.
In this interview with The Big Issue Emilia reflects on her journey from selling the magazine outside Old Street tube station to founding Odd Eyes Theatre, as it reaches its 10 year anniversary.
Today, Emilia’s credits include work as playwright, director and award-winning filmmaker. She regularly lectures in dramaturgy, writing and Theatre of the Oppressed at colleges and universities in the UK and internationally.
Find out more about Emilia and her work: www.emiliateglia.net
Andreea Tudose, Associate Artist and Participation Manager, is a Romanian theatre-maker and actor. She moved to the UK as a child, and her work focuses on the material, linguistic and cultural realities of being a migrant. Two of her solo durational performance pieces recently featured at the Biennale Archipelago Mediterraneo (Sicily). Andreea also works with Projekt Europa on their Artistic Advisory Board.
Diego Trucco is experienced in managing large-scale budgets, implementing and improving systems in performing arts and higher education sectors. He is committed to fostering equal opportunities, with a strong focus on education for young adults.
Diego joined Odd Eyes Theatre young people’s leadership placement programme in 2020. After becoming a Trustee in 2022, he was appointed Chair of the Board in 2023.
Diego currently works as Finance & Planning Manager at the Royal Academy of Music, where he is responsible for leading business partnering with budget holders and administrators, overseeing budget processes and conducting financial analysis.
He is active musician and dedicated volunteer, using music as a catalyst for social change and creative expression.
Sara-Jane Kaba’s love affair with theatre started at the age of 3 when she experienced her first Panto.
After graduating with a BA Hons in Performing Arts at London Metropolitan University, Sara-Jane joined MeWe Arts and Education where she toured theatre in schools, directed and produced community projects both nationally and internationally and worked with various London boroughs creating bespoke pieces of art within the community. She fell pregnant with her first child in 2011 and stopped working within that arts. So she gave up Performing Arts because that’s what she thought she had to do to become a responsible adult.
After 10+ years working in various office settings, Sara-Jane made the courageous step of quitting her stable job in January 2021 and returning to her love of performing arts. Since then, she has set up her own performing arts company ‘Soca Moves’ which mainly focuses on empowering children through the power of self-expression and dance. As well as working with a variety of performing arts companies as a freelancer. She joined Odd Eyes Theatre’s Board as a Trustee and continues to strengthen her ties to theatre.
Flora Herberich is a producer working predominantly in circus. After working 10 years as a performer and artist, Flora decided to cross over to the other side and work with artists and venues to create, develop and tour circus in the UK. She has worked with leading sector organisations like the Roundhouse and Crying Out Loud and is currently Director at Pitchbend Circus and Associate Artist artist at Jacksons Lane, North London’s home of circus.
Flora first came across Odd Eyes Theatre when Mimbre invited her to see #Haters during its first tour in 2015. She applied to join the Board in 2016 and is happy to be influencing interesting and politically relevant work.
Letizia Mele is Drama and Creative Movement Lecturer at Newham College.
Letizia graduated in Performing Arts at De-Montfort University. Since 2004 she implements dance-theatre techniques in her work with people with learning disabilities and with elderly participants in care homes.
Yasanji Chamara Ratnaike joined Odd Eyes Theatre as a Trustee in 2023 through the ELBA programme. He is a VP in Markets Portfolio Management at JP Morgan, with a career in top-tier banks since 2013. He holds a Ph.D. in Economics from Leeds University, where he researched trade policies and later served as a Lecturer. During his tenure at Morgan Stanley, he represented SOS Children’s Charity in Hungary and participated in mentorship programs, continuing similar initiatives at JP Morgan. Outside of work, he is a qualified fitness instructor and has a deep passion for literature and art.
Simrun Kaur-Rathore works in academic publishing and supports the management of cancer journals at Sage Publications. Following on from her BSc Hons in Biomedical Science, she completed a Masters in Neuroscience and Translational Medicine. During her time at university, she added to her volunteering portfolio as an Event First Aider with St John Ambulance and facilitated the teaching of first aid to her peers as a Unit Manager.
Simrun has always loved volunteering, whether that was mucking out at her local riding school while growing up in Hackney or completing Seva at her local Gurdwara. She has always had a love of music and had the diasporic advantage of studying music from a Western and Eastern perspective. While learning to play the drums at school she was tutored in playing the Tabla and was taught Raags by the esteemed Ustad Sital Singh Sitara.
With a love of science, comes a great appreciation for the arts – which is a science in itself!