Creative Critics MIF19 Artists

Meet our wonderful artists on the Creative Critics Project at Manchester International Festival 2019.

Lisa Thornton
Lead Artist, Creative Critics
I’m a theatre-maker and facilitator whose practice predominately focuses on working with young people and on issues that are pertinent to health and well-being. This is my first project with All Ways Making and Creative Critics.  I can’t wait to see exciting the new work that’s being presented at MIF19, while also challenging and empowering young people to critique it. The enthusiasm and energy of year-8 pupils at Manchester Communication Academy is already filling me with confidence that they’re going to produce some really thought-provoking reviews.  

James Varney
Assistant Artist, Creative Critics
This is the first time I have worked for Creative Critics and All Ways Making.  I’m a writer and theatre-maker who moved to Manchester in 2015 when I attended my first MIF events. I’ve worked with a lot of groups of young people in Greater Manchester – and having met the group from Manchester Communication Academy, I can say they’re as vibrant and switched-on as I have come to expect from the youth of this city. I’m fascinated to learn from them how they see their relationship with the city of Manchester and what the Festival means to them. 

Sarah Cotterill
Lead Artist, Creative Critics
As an Associate Artists with All Ways Making I’m thrilled to be a Creative Critics lead artist as part of MIF19 and part of such an internationally renowned Festival especially with a project that’s so vital to young people’s appreciation of the arts in 2019. Inspired by MIF’s emphasis on the people that make up this diverse city, Ryan Gilmartin and I are exploring a variety of subjects with pupils at Newall Green High School, celebrating the individuals in our workshops through a range of personal responses.

Ryan Gilmartin 
Assistant Artist, Creative Critics
This is my first project with All Ways Making and I am excited to join the team as Creative Critics assistant artist. I’m an actor, theatre-maker and VJ who didn’t see himself as an artist until I took part in a workshop with Scottee a year ago – but I’m now really looking forward to having two-way conversations with young people about art and the role it plays in our lives. I’ve already been blown away by the openness of the young people at Newall Green High School, and I’m very much looking forward to working with them and seeing them become Creative Critics MIF19.