Our People
The Team
Sandra Hall | Co-Director and Lead Artist
Born in Kenya, Sandra’s early career was grounded in performing in theatre, TV and film before coming to Birmingham in 1990 for a two-year stint with Geese Theatre, performing in 120 prisons across the UK and Ireland. Sandra has trained with the likes of Philippe Gaulier, Augusto Boal, Prapto Suryodarmo, Guillermo Gomez-Pena and Jonathan Kay and is an accomplished actor, director and deviser of performance in all its many forms. Alongside Lee she initiates, devises and develops Friction’s projects, as well as fundraising, managing projects and people and ensuring everything’s on track. Sandra grew up ligging her way around the original punk and new wave scene in late 70s/early 80s London and has a treasure trove of stories from that time
Lee Griffiths | Co-director and Lead Artist
‘Proper Brummie’ Lee’s early career was nothing if not eclectic. Including running his own tropical fish shop business at age 17, spending several years as a commercial scuba diver, becoming a qualified nursery nurse, a farm labourer and finally an audio-visual engineer – his wide experience has stood him in good stead to work in the responsive environment that Friction’s work creates. Lee, like Sandra, is responsible for the decision-making and development side of Friction’s output and in addition is an all-round maker, handyman and techie, and Friction’s one man IT Crowd.
Simon Walker
Simon has worked with Friction as an artist, performer, graphic artist, video artist for nearly 20 years. He has worked with us regularly on our international arts projects and is one of our closest collaborators. As a creative catalyst, Simon has worked across, through, with, along and inside most of our projects – he’s part of and contributes to our DNA.
Other people
Friction Arts also works regularly with over 20 freelance artists, technicians and other experts. Together, we produce high-quality, risk-taking work, whatever the context. There’s far too many to list here, but thanks to all of you.
The Board
As well as Lee and Sandra, we have a diverse board including:
Tim Hodgson (interim Chair)
Tim has led creative commissioning programmes for MAC Birmingham and Appetite Stoke, and has devised new strategic, creative and funding frameworks for Birmingham City Council and Shout Festival, among others. He has produced a range of original projects focused on social engagement, inclusion and conversation, including for the National Trust, Flatpack Festival and English Heritage. Tim was Senior Producer for Birmingham 2022 Festival, the six-month festival surrounding the 3033 Commonwealth Games and is currently Creative Producer for Stonehenge, Avebury and Associated Sites, engaged to design new creative projects to grow and diversify audiences, inspire deeper engagement and lasting joy from visitors’ onsite experience
Rachael Veazey
Heledd McBride
Michael Mihoc – Michael is an actor, writer and director who also co-founded Coventry’s ‘Fridays’ Club – an initiative by young people to help other young people at risk of being involved in knife crime through making art and performance projects together. Michael is our Youth Advisory board member.
Tim Mills
Chloe Deakin
Ellen McAdam