Maria Askew is an award-winning cultural leader, director, educator and facilitator. She is head of Mountview’s MA in Theatre for Community and Education.
Maria’s practice spans sectors and communities including youth groups, displaced people, healthcare professionals, students and academics in higher education, NGOs and charities across the UK, Europe, Latin America and the USA.
Maria trained at Jacques Lecoq International Theatre School in Paris and holds a Master of Science in International Politics from SOAS University, as well as a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre and Performance Studies from the University of Warwick.
Maria is an Associate Artist at Clod Ensemble, facilitating for their programme Performing Medicine which uses forum theatre and arts workshops to support NHS healthcare professionals in developing skills in communication, collaboration, well-being and conflict resolution. She also works with academics in higher education to consider creative approaches to research, collaborative leadership and public speaking with 64 Million Artists.
Maria is also an Associate Artist at Kazzum Arts and facilitates workshops with City of Sanctuary UK. She has extensive experience designing and delivering creative programmes with displaced people and those seeking sanctuary, including young refugees and asylum seekers.
She was co-founder and Artistic Director of Superbolt Theatre, a collaborative theatre company that created and performed original work for intergenerational audiences. Their award-winning sell-out shows toured internationally, performing to audiences in the USA, Australia, Poland, Norway, Switzerland and throughout the UK.
Maria has facilitated creative and educational projects in Colombia and the Dominican Republic, delivered theatre workshops with Latin American communities in London, and contributed performances to Papaya Fest, an arts festival celebrating Latin American stories. She has also lectured in Theatre and Performance Practice at London Metropolitan University and worked as a researcher on Latin America for Al Jazeera.
Maria’s research explores the intersections between artistic, educational, political, and social transformation. Her facilitation style is relational, reflective and reciprocal, embracing the lessons learned through collaboration in community. Maria draws on a wide range of techniques to engage diverse groups. Her approach is informed by a desire to foster understanding, bring about meaningful change and inspire joy.
Through practical exercises, facilitated discussion and creative exploration, Maria invites groups to deepen their self-awareness in connection to one another. This work is underpinned by careful research, ongoing engagement with new ideas and a flexible approach that responds to the needs of the group or individual.
Maria is head of Mountview’s MA Theatre for Community and Education.
Email Maria on mariaaskew@mountview.org.uk
