Charlie is a young and inspiring filmmaker working with Strange Town to help teach film and theatre to other young people. He is on the Autistic spectrum and he uses that to drive his passion for film. Film has been a huge passion of his for many years and he is enthused to have the chance to teach it to people, with the hope that those people he teaches will have the same passion as him. He’s most looking forward to talking and discussing film with his group. He is very excited to start this journey and happy to be working with Strange Town.
0131 629 0292
info@strangetown.org.uk
Meet more of the Team
Trudy Kalvynaite
Trudy is a visual artist and theatre maker who has been developing her practice in Edinburgh for the past five years. Born in Lithuania, raised in Ireland and now rooted in Scotland, she explores fusion of identities and heritage in her work. Her play INERTIA, premiering at Edinburgh Fringe 2025, portrays a haunting portrait of her own family history. With her experience in creative education, Trudy is keen to explore the importance of play and vulnerability in the creative process with young people.
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.
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.
Jenny Anderson
Jenny has worked in Edinburgh and the Scottish Borders as a drama practitioner since 2017. Through this work, she helps young people to develop their confidence and perfect their drama skills whilst having fun and making new friends.
She also runs Zoom workshops for young people across the UK with the same rare syndrome (Kabuki) as herself. They gain so much by connecting through drama. She loves all aspects of my work both face to face and in the virtual world and is very much looking forward to this new chapter working regularly with Strange Town.
Grace Marshall
Assistant Director - Wednesday 11-14s
Grace is an actor and director based in Edinburgh, who graduated with a First Class BA (Hons) in Dance and Drama with Kingston University and Performing Arts Studio Scotland in 2025.
She has performed in theatres all across Edinburgh, including at the Royal Lyceum and the Traverse Theatre, and recently wrote and directed her own show ‘In My Own Hands’ which was performed at the Biscuit Factory.
She is passionate about creating theatre that sparks conversation, and using it as a unique tool to educate, and hopes to inspire young people to do the same!
Lori Cook
Lori graduated from Performing Arts Studio Scotland in 2023 with a BA Hons degree in Dance and Drama with Kingston University.
She has been involved in theatre her whole life from performing to assistant-directing and choreographing for amateur theatre groups. She wants to encourage children get into drama and to make it a fun enjoyable way for them to express themselves.
