Leianna is a writer with Armenian heritage. She graduated from LIPA with a degree in community drama in 2016 and has also completed the Liverpool Everyman & Playhouse Playwrights’ Programme. She is a mum of two and has a passion for creating and performing in her own work. Leianna was inspired by reading Unprotected (Everyman 2006) to write plays that she feels need to be heard, and to create conversation. Leianna’s most recent play ‘The Weight of Repopulating a Nation’ was a one-woman autobiographical performance documenting the playwright’s journey as she uncovered her own and her community’s story during the Armenian Genocide of 1915. Leianna performed this show as part of the Liverpool Fringe Festival and for the Unity Theatre’s open call programme.

Marius Spence

Marius Spence is a new writer from Manchester. He has been writing for around two years and this is his first work to be published.Marius has recently finished writing his first play and started writing his first novel.He is particularly interested in writing about the themes of power, sexuality, ethnicity and class.

Richard Peralta

Richard P. Peralta (they/he/by name) is a deaf, Filipino-American multidisciplinary writer and preformer excited to be a part of Titolola Dawdu and Tamasha Theatre’s Hear Me Now Volume 2. Currently Richard is in R&D stages of his play Goldfish, which most recently had selections preformed at the Graeae Beyond Showcase and Furnace Scratch event at Leeds Playhouse last May after participating in writing courses with New Earth Theatre, Theatre 503, and Nottingham Playhouse. Richard is also currently in Much Ado About Nothing with Sheffield Theatres and Ramps on the Moon. Recent work includes Ella Hickson’s Wendy and Peter Pan at Leeds Playhouse and the lead in Hilmi Jaidin’s Cruel, Inhuman, and Degrading musical. Richard is committed to improving inclusive representation in the arts through their writing.

Justina Aina

Justina Aina is a Writer, Performer and Creative Producer. Driven by the beauty and detail in creative journeys, Justina engages in stories from less explored cultural backgrounds and reintroductions of works that should be given way more flowers. She aims to always lend a hand in refilling missing parts of history. Justina has appeared on TV in The Five and on stage in Billy The Kid. As actor, vocalist and writer, Justina has created performances in collaboration with Manchester International Festival, Girl Gang Manchester, Black Gold Arts and House of Noir. As a producer, Justina has worked with Hat Trick Productions, YouTuber: Tom Simons, Royal Exchange Theatre, The Bruntwood Prize for Playwriting, and Contact Theatre. Justina trained with The Edinburgh TV Festival, CLORE, Stage One, Artistic Director Leadership programme, Arden School of Theatre, and The Brit School. The learning never stops; she believes she will forever be a student of the industry as well as an avid contributor.