Make 2023

Uta Lambertz (they/them) is a dramaturg, curator and systemic coach who works as artistic coordinator at Kampnagel Hamburg. Lambertz studied Theatre and Media Studies and Communication & Cultural Management and has been part of the programme team at Kampnagel since 2010. As the person responsible for cooperations, Lambertz regularly organizes cross-sector conferences; the focus of the artistic programme work is on performance, theatre, cross-genre and participatory formats – with a special focus on queerness and gender equality. In addition to local and international artists, Lambertz supports national and international networks such as “ACT – Art, Climate, Transition” (Creative Europe) and regularly takes on jury activities and teaching assignments.

Benji Reid is a British photographer, visual theatre maker, and educator. His work focuses on the intersection of race, nationhood and gender with particular attention to the Black British experience,Black masculinity, and mental health.He attended the Northern School of Contemporary Dance, studying ballet, contemporary, choreography, and lighting design. After appearing in Alan Lyddiard’s production of The Tempest at Edinburgh Festival Fringe, he auditioned for Soul II Soul, became chief dancer and co-choreographer for some of their numbers, and went on a world tour as part of the collective.His photograph Holding on to Daddy(2016) was the winner of the Wellcome Photography Prize 2020 in the Mental Health category. A pioneer of Hip Hop Theatre and culture in the UK, Reid defines himself as a ‘Choreo-Photolist’, a term he coined to refer to the practice of merging theatre and choreography in his photography. His work has been shown at the Museum of Contemporary African Diasporan Arts in New York, Somerset House in London, and Design Fair Paris.Reid then trained for a year with David Glass, touring nationally with the David Glass Ensemble. He has worked with director Denise Wong and Black Mime Theatre, as well as directing Aeroplane Man by Jonzi D, and co-creating the pieces Silence da Bitchin’ and Cracked.The hip hop musical Avalanche at Nottingham Playhouse marked the foundation of Reid’s own company, Breaking Cycles. Reid took part in the Hip-Hop Theater Festival in New York, and was the curator of The Illness at Sadler’s Wells in London. Reid’s show The Holiday toured to PS122 in New York, Sydney Opera House, the Linbury Theatre at the Royal Opera House, and more. In 2006, Reid founded Process 06, an opportunity to explore Hip Hop Theatre as an educational tool.When his company was left without funds in 2011, Reid’s journey into photography started. His first photography exhibition was A Thousand Words at Contact Theatre. From a love note to his daughter to exploring mental health through surreal portraits and self-portraits,for Reid photography represents a possibility to celebrate love and fragility, challenging stereotypes of Black masculinity. Reid refers to his creative work as ‘part ritual, part photography, and part prayer.’

Ragnheiður Skúladóttir was born and raised in Reykjavík.  She finished her BA in theatre and multimedia at the University of Iowa in 1991 and her MFA at the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis in 1996. Following her studies she moved to New York City where she  lived and worked as a performer, performance maker, coach and instructor. In 2000, following a 13 year stint in the U.S, she moved back to Reykjavík  after being offered the position of  Dean of Department of Theatre and Dance at then newly founded Iceland Academy of the Arts. Ragnheiður worked at the Academy until 2011, initiating new programs in contemporary performance practices and contemporary dance. In 2008 she co-founded the LÓKAL International Theatre Festival, an annual event that presents new local and international work in the field of theatre and performance. She was artistic director of the Akureyri City Theatre from 2012 to 2015 and manager of Iceland Dance Company 2016-2019. Ragnheiður is the artistic director and CEO of Festspillene i Nord-Norge since 2019.

Ragnheiður has years of experience as teacher and mentor (at IAA, University of Syracuse, Academy for Scenekunst in Fredrikstad, MAKE Ireland, NB8 Nordic Circle Mentoring Program, Future Leaders in the Performing Arts). She has also worked with various artists/groups as a producer and served as a critical friend (Kviss búmm bang, Dance for Me, Room 408, Shalala, Margrét Sara Guðjónsdóttir)