Amy is a Scottish actress and presenter who studied Film, Media & Broadcast Journalism at the University of Stirling before gaining a Masters in Classical and Contemporary Text, with Merit in Acting, from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. Amy has written 3 pieces for Strange Town so far; comedy shorts Please Give: 1 & 2 for the Young Company, about strangers meeting in a blood donation centre and Cinderella, a modern pantomime for the Youth Theatre, later adapted and retitled Cindy for its revival at the Scottish Storytelling Centre in 2014.
0131 629 0292
info@strangetown.org.uk
Meet more of the Team
Pollyanna Esse
Pollyanna has worked with Strange Town for 2 years assisting various workshops. She graduated from Edinburgh University in 2022 with a Fine Art degree and is now training to be an Art Physiotherapist.
She has worked in theatre throughout her life and found her love for directing and producing in her final year of her undergraduate degree. In 2022, she wrote and directed her own Fringe show, going on to work for a New York based Theatre company. There she produced a programme for young and emerging playwrights as well as taking their show to Fringe in 2023. Some of the playwrights she mentored have now been commission to write for multiple theatres in New York. She has always had a love for arts education and giving people the space and opportunity to express themselves.
She has worked for Edinburgh International Festival for the past 2 years as their Digital Content Officer. So she has an strong organisation head too as well as being a creative at heart!
She recently set up Ophelia Hare Arts, where she aims to develop creative experiences that challenge the barriers of pay for early career creatives. She believes that no matter who you are, you should have access to the arts and experience the freedom of expression.
Dylan Mooney
Dylan Mooney is a playwright and facilitator based in West Lothian. Graduating from Performing Arts Studio Scotland with a BA (Hons) in Dance and Drama, Dylan has gone on to build a career in playwriting with his work recently being performed at Capital Theatre’s Studio and Biggar Corn Exchange. He is currently being mentored by Douglas Maxwell and Playwrights’ Studio Scotland. As a facilitator, Dylan has worked with a number of Strange Town groups over the years and really enjoys inspiring the young people creatively as they discover new passions and joy for the arts.
Adam Butler
Originally from Edinburgh, Adam has recently moved back from Glasgow where he spent four years training and developing his craft.
Adam holds a BA Acting degree from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. Since graduating, Adam has worked as an actor, director, producer, and tutor.
His current and previous tutoring work includes the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, Rose Bruford College, Edinburgh Acting School, and Edinburgh Council’s Adult Education Course. His latest directing credit was A Midsummer Night’s Dream, performed in June 2024 at the Church Hill Theatre.
Adam is a supportive and approachable tutor, and looks to help students discover their full potential.
Sophia Irvine-Fortescue
Sophia is the Workshop Assistant for the Friday 5-7s Intro to Drama and Friday 8-12s Theatre Skills classes.
Victoria Giambalvo
Victoria Giambalvo (she/they) is a previously New York-based, currently Edinburgh-based actor and creator. They have a passion for developing and performing in immersive and interactive experiences, particularly in personal development for audiences of all ages. They hold a BFA in Musical Theatre from Long Island University and MSc in Film Studies from University of Edinburgh, and are one of the co-founders and producers of Play Full: A Scratch Night. Most recently they appeared in Hopscotch Theatre’s interactive children show ‘The Play, Play’ funded by University of Glasgow, and will have been seen touring Scotland in ‘Pinocchio’ during the 2024 Christmas months.
Ola Olsinova
Ola is an actor with experience working as a school, nursery, and language teacher, and as a nanny for several years. She has a degree in Sociology and Psychology from the University of Edinburgh, as well as Acting from the MGA Academy. Ola is passionate about supporting children in finding out what they love (her favourite is when that happens to be theatre), exploring the world through creative lenses, and helping children develop empathy and understanding of the world and other people through drama.
