Steph Smart

Key skills: Acting
Ages catered for: Under 12 years, 12 – 16 years, 16+ years
Location: Highland
As a seasoned Creative and Arts Practitioner, Drama Tutor, Director and Acting Coach, Steph is committed to guiding individuals of all abilities, ages, and skill levels on their path to artistic excellence and personal development. Coming from a place of empathy and compassion, support and empowerment, she has eighteen years of experience working in performing arts and education contexts. She holds a firm belief in the power of drama as a tool for change, learning, transformation, and play! Through classes, workshops, and 1-2-1 sessions, Steph empowers children, teens, and adults through creative learning to build confidence, imagination, and personal growth in the Highlands of Scotland and beyond. By combining drama education, mindset coaching with the power of play, each person she works with is placed at the heart of their learning journey—a journey where limits are lifted, and realities are redefined.
Notable productions: Whilst in employment with UHI Inverness as a drama lecturer, I have facilitated a number of different external projects working with the following organisations: Highland Council - Trauma Summit (2024) Project Facilitator A summit designed to explore and encourage the inclusion of Trauma-Informed Practice across vital support sectors. The project is designed to demonstrate the real human impacts, positively and negatively, TIP can have. Although the summit did not go ahead, the project the students developed did - a forum piece of theatre exploring the positive impacts of TIP. Mikeysline (2021) Project Facilitator Four in-person workshops: Self-esteem & Empowerment, Anxiety, queer identities, and exploration of self. Creativity in Care (2021) Project Facilitator An online workshop exploring creativity and creative arts supporting fun, play, and expression. Highland Child & Youth Arts Forum (2021) Project Facilitator Two in-person workshops: Learning about visual impairment through drama and Accessible Drama Two short films, using verbatim techniques, documenting life as a blind or partially sighted person. National Trust for Scotland – Abertarff House (2021) Project Facilitator Short film exploring the history of the space and the sorts of characters who stayed there. Out of the Darkness Theatre Company (2020) Project Facilitator Two online workshops delivered live exploring key themes around covid safety, lockdown and adjusting to the new norm. Two short films exploring the difficulties faced with covid whilst highlighting the positive parts of individual experiences. National Trust for Scotland – Elf Academy Brodie Castle (2019) Project Facilitator Working with students to devise a site specific promenade performance for children and families at Christmas. Highland Hospice (2019) Project Facilitator A devised piece of theatre created in partnership with the staff and patients involved in palliative care to highlight the positive and upbeat work the hospice does. Safe, Strong, Free (2019) Project Facilitator A devised promenade piece for children highlighting the ethos and curriculum of the organisation. Clarity Walks (2019) Project Facilitator An interactive workshop for children and families highlighting the importance of disconnecting from electronic devices and social media for positive mental wellbeing. Cradlehall Primary (2019) Project Facilitator A workshop on film making and climate change as per the curriculum. Pancreatic Cancer UK (2018) Project Facilitator/Director Homeward Bound a scripted project documenting the life and death of Seth Goodburn following a diagnosis of pancreatic cancer. Autism Initiatives (2018) Project Facilitator A devised performance highlighting the challenges, differences, and achievements of people with autism. Mikeysline (2018) Project Facilitator Autumn Collapse a short film exploring the ‘what ifs’ of not speaking up about metal health. Cradlehall Primary (2017) Project Facilitator A workshop on friendship, bullying, and empowerment. Hilton Primary (2017) Project Facilitator Two workshops – one about space as per the curriculum using drama techniques to explore the topic, the second workshop about how to create a devised piece of theatre. Notable Works Unforeseen Consequences (2023) | Broken Barrel Productions funded by Youth Highland - Project Facilitator / Director Agamemnon & Clytemnestra: Special Victims Unit (2024) | UHI Drama - Director Alice in Wonderland (2024) | UHI Drama - Director The Wedding Singer (2023) | Inverness Musical Theatre Company - Director Animal Farm (2022) | UHI Drama - Director A Midsummer Night’s Dream [online] (2021) | UHI Drama - Director Homeward Bound (2021 & 2019) | Lesley Goodburn & Seth’s Legacy - Director Antigone (2020) | UHI Drama - Director Macbeth (2019) | UHI Drama - Director A Midsummer Night’s Dream (2019) | UHI Drama - co-director Under Milkwood (2019) | Eden Court Theatre Community Cast - Director Processions (2018) | Artichoke Trust - Assistant Producer Traffik (2017) Strangetown Theatre - Director Transmission (2017) | Toaster Lab - Assistant Producer The Man Who Shouldn't Be Here (2017) | Butt-in Productions - Producer Avengers: Infinity Wars (2017) | Marvel Studios - Location marshall We Are Not Criminals (2016) | New Celts Productions & Forty Elephants - Director Only the Brave (2016) | Strangetown Theatre & National Theatre for Scotland - Assistant Director Where Next (2016) | Strangetown Theatre - Assistant Director Counting Sheep (2016) | Hot Feat Canada - Box Office / Front of House manager Gagarin Way (2015) | New Celts Productions & Mindframe Theatre - Director Letters Home (2015) | Grid Iron - Front of House
Previous employers: UHI Inverness | Youth Highland | Highlife Highland | Inverness Musical Theatre Company | Eden Court Theatre | Artichoke Trust | Strange Town | Toaster Lab Canada | Marvel Studios | Hot Feat Canada | Strangetown | New Celts Productions | National Theatre of Scotland | Grid Iron

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