Maya's Story

A Journey of Hope, Discovery and Love

Maya started at Chickenshed around the age of eight or nine. They began within Chickenshed’s Children’s Theatre with a passion for performance and singing. Naturally, they progressed to Youth Theatre, where they discovered a skill for writing. They continued their passion for performance and singing too.

Continuing onto the Young Company, this allowed Maya to experiment with leading spaces and directing performances. 

Now a young adult, Maya continues her passion for performance and singing, as well as directing and writing for Youth Theatre and Young Company shows. Having grown up alongside Chickenshed, they have explored a magnitude of creative avenues and now work within the company.

I began as a small, shy kid in an even smaller, blue walking frame who felt like she didn’t belong in the world. I began singing and performing, dressing up and dancing. For the first time, I knew what it felt like to be accepted and for difference to be celebrated. Chickenshed is a small slice of my world where ability isn’t of importance, how I look doesn’t determine my value or how talented I am.

As I grew up, everything felt lost in translation outside of Chickenshed. The world and the arts felt so inaccessible and intangible for me. I knew that Chickenshed would support and nurture me unconditionally. 

As we evolved together, I learned so much about myself and what I had to offer the world. Being a part of the generation that was a catalyst for youth-led performance is one of power and importance within my journey. It helped me rediscover my love for performance, I began writing and creating theatre for various projects that had a pivotal part to play in finding my identity.

As we evolved together, I learnt so much about myself and what I had to offer the world. Being apart of the generation that were a catalyst for youth-led performance is one of power and importance within my journey. It helped me rediscover my love for performance, I began writing and creating theatre for various projects that had a pivotal part to play in finding my identity.

At the age of 19, I was offered the opportunity to lead and facilitate sessions, which led me to build the confidence to later direct different projects and performances. If I could go back and tell my younger self, I am a director and writer for Chickenshed - she would probably wee herself. I feel privileged to say I grew up within this building, and that I remain to be part of something bigger than myself. 

Receiving the script of SMILE! back in April, I was intimidated and I didn’t believe that I could transform a radio play into a performance which still held its integrity.

I read it a million times over, analysing the social and climate issues the play advocates for. I spent time with the writer, Helena Thompson, understanding her intentions and visited the Natural History Museum several times, alongside the set and prop designer Aqiong Zhang to make sure what myself and the cast would bring to life would translate into that particular space.

In June, we held a series of workshops which allowed us to experiment with ideas and read the script all together for the first time. Over July and August, I solidified these ideas, ensuring that I had a clear vision before I went intothe eight day rehearsal process. This script, style of performance and intensive rehearsal process differs to the way that Chickenshed work

My cast blew me away, they worked so hard and maintained patience and compassion for myself and for one another. Everyone accessed my ideas with ease and the rehearsal space was one of mutual respect and understanding. The level of work produced in such a small time-frame was commendable. These workings combined with the ethos of SPID Theatre produced a partnership of magic. A series of first experiences for everyone involved, this experience was like no other. Everyone put in so much effort and gave the story the grace it deserves.

I'm still smiling.