A designer & community artist based in Manchester, Nerissa designs and makes stuff. She also helps others to design and make stuff.
I have been painting scenery since I was at school & was what started me designing for theatre. I did scenic placements at the Royal Lyceum in Edinburgh & Ludus Dance company while at college. Since leaving college I have worked for Bolton Octagon, RNCM, Library Theatre & Swan Theatre, Worcester as a scenic artist & prop maker. I paint most of my own designs and have taught painting & prop making skills as part of my job as Head of Design for Manchester Youth Theatre & British Youth Film Project. Scenic painting & Prop making skills include: masks, puppets, polystyrene carving, basic woodwork, clay, wire, card etc. I also make banners and textiles. I have a studio in Salford for making props & masks.
For full listings of theatre design projects, please download my CV.
Designed to be used as part of the Drink, Drugs, Sex and Anger programme following the success of the STI masks for the Sexual Health programme. It is a performance and education programme for 12 to 25 yrs, that explores and promotes understanding of addiction, personal safety and emotional literacy.
Director: Andrew Walkington
“The Treasure of Albion” is a children’s adventure feature film where “The Da Vinci Code” meets “The Goonies”, Enid Blyton and “Byker Grove”.
Directed by Sue Caudle & Jenny Harris
Performed at The Lowry Studio
“Strange Capers” was devised by the group using Shakespeare’s “Romeo & Juliet” as a starting point. The design was developed from a drawing of Shakespeare by one of the members, Anna Ward.
Can you guess which is which? Choose from HIV, AIDS, Herpes, Gonorrhea, Syphilis, Public Lice, Gential Warts & Chlamydia.
I was commissioned by Groundwork to design & paint a mural on Miles Platting Library as part of a larger regeneration project in the area. My brief was to create something bright & happy to cheer people up & to do this through workshops with local children.
Designed by Dawn Allsopp
Large quantities of polystrene and idenden went into creating this landscape of slag heaps and pit props.
Designed by Judith Croft
Large quantities of idenden were used to create the different textures of wood, stone and brick. The trees were created from polystyrene and netting.
Designed by David Cockayne
David created a magical world of moving trees with cloudlike tops. Additional elements were also stylized to keep that fairytale feel.