OUR TEAM - Intermission

Artistic Director

Darren Raymond is the Artistic Director of Intermission Youth and created Intermission Youth Theatre in 2008. He trained as an actor with the London Shakespeare Workout and was introduced to Intermission when performing Othello in a guest production.

Darren's external directing credits include Shakespeare Walks, Sonnet Sunday, and Voices in the Dark for Shakespeare's Globe. He is a member of the RSC's Education Advisory Committee and a Mentor for the National Criminal Justice Arts Alliance.

General Manager

Sue's previous career was based in the legal sector and she brings her business and management skills to Intermission Youth to assist in taking them to the next level - finding a new permanent home, expanding the programmes currently offered and enhancing our community and film work ensuring we reach more and more young people across London and further afield.

Having worked solely in the private/corporate world, Sue is keen to give back to the community and help young people realise and live up to their full potential.

Youth Engagement & Facilitation Manager

Nana grew up in Hackney. He got into acting when he was eleven, performing at Her Majesty's Theatre in Bugsy Malone, Porgy and Bess at Glyndebourne and King Priam with Kent Opera.

Nana joined Intermission Youth initially as a volunteer with the Youth Theatre where he quickly developed his facilitation and coaching skills. He now leads and delivers work for the organisation running the 10-month theatre programme as well as collaborating with Rada, The Globe and The RSC. Nana also delivers workshops in schools, pupil referral units and prisons. He was appointed Youth Engagement & Facilitation Manager in 2020.

Amanda is the Founder of Inc Arts UK, a national body campaigning for increased inclusion in the arts sector workforce and researching retention and recruitment solutions for the sector. After a career in television and radio production, Amanda moved into campaigns management for the BBC, producing the launch and recruitment campaign for BBC Radio 1Xtra, and working with the BBC’s radio networks and orchestras on national music campaigns, winning an RTS award, two Webby awards and a CRE Race in  the Media Award.

Diana Whitehead is the founder of Fourth Wall PR a specialist Arts and Culture consultancy working across the performing arts, festivals, exhibitions and events. A former journalist turned comms expert, with a solid track record for gaining National and International coverage as well as connecting projects at a grassroots level and targeting under-represented communities. Diana has advised CEOs of FTSE listed companies, worked on top level strategy and managed both large and small scale PR and marketing campaigns in-house and agency-side. Diana has collaborated extensively with a diverse range of producers, critically-acclaimed directors, playwrights and artists and worked on both large and small-scale London shows and National Tours, festivals, art installations and the digital stage.

Narinder Sagoo MBE, is a Senior Partner at Foster + Partners, is an architect, artist, and advocate for creativity and social change. With over 27 years of experience, Narinder has played a crucial role in numerous landmark projects worldwide, including the transformation of Trafalgar Square, 'The Gherkin' in London, and Apple Park in California. Renowned for his unique perspective drawings, Narinder has produced well over 25000 architectural visions in his career. His ability to communicate complex ideas in a simple manner has earned him recognition as one of the finest architectural artists of his generation. Passionate about community service and inspiration, Narinder serves as a Champion for Diversity and Inclusion within the industry.

Cynthia is an Educational Psychologist who works with young people, their families and teachers in London. Cynthia is also a tutor on the doctoral training programme at UCL Institute of Education which trains educational psychologists. Many of the young people Cynthia works with have backgrounds which are similar to the young people that Intermission work with, in terms of coming from diverse ethnic communities, have experienced deprivation or have had difficult home lives. Cynthia will be working with Intermission to make schools, colleges and providers of alternative provision aware of how the youth theatre can offer opportunities for young people. She will also work with psychotherapists who are supporting our young people with their emotional wellbeing.

Ambassador - Danny Sapani is a distinguished British actor renowned for his versatile performances across film, television, and theatre. Of Ghanaian descent, Danny has brought to life a range of compelling characters in notable projects such as Black Panther, Ear for Eye, Tarakasura, and Star Wars in the film arena. His television credits include critically acclaimed series like Killing Eve, The Crown, Harlots, and Penny Dreadful. On stage, Danny has showcased his talent in productions like Hymn & King Lear at the Almeida Theatre and Medea at the National Theatre.

Born and raised in London, Danny's passion for acting began at the Weekend Arts College in Kentish Town. This early exposure to the arts ignited a desire for more intensive training, leading him to the prestigious Central School of Speech and Drama.

Beyond his impressive acting career, Danny Sapani is also a dedicated supporter of Intermission Youth Theatre. This organization resonates deeply with him due to its commitment to empowering young people through the arts, particularly those from underserved communities. And particularly through the power of Shakespeare's oeuvre. Danny believes that everyone should know these words and understand that this work is for them. He feels Shakespeare's incredible scope and range of language can inspire individuals to find their own voices, just as it did for him. Having experienced firsthand the transformative power of artistic expression and rigorous training, Danny is passionate about providing similar opportunities to the next generation. His support for Intermission Youth Theatre is driven by a desire to give back to the community and inspire young people to pursue their dreams, just as he did. “Their work is amazing; every production blows me away.”

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