(le/the) Pain

Jean-Daniel Broussé is an emerging figure on both the London and Marseille performance scenes, working at the intersection of circus, dance, theatre and comedy. After studying literature and history at Bordeaux III and UCL London, he trained at the National Centre for Circus Arts, developing a distinctly multidisciplinary approach.

His first show, Knot, co-created with Nikki Rummer, received international acclaim, winning Best Circus Show at the Total Theatre Awards and a prestigious Herald Angel Award at the Edinburgh Festival. Over the course of his career, JD has collaborated with numerous circus companies in France and the UK, including Barely Methodical Troupe, Superfan, Compagnie Bestia, Compagnie Ratpack and Compagnie Gratte-Ciel. He also performed alongside celebrated artist Lucy McCormick in Life: Live.

More recently, he received a personal nomination for Best Male Performance for his role as Hades in Ruination, a dance-theatre piece presented at the Venice Biennale, the Royal Opera House in London, and Théâtre de la Ville in Paris.

He is also the co-creator of The Shit Show, a cheeky and anarchic queer cabaret in Marseille.

His debut solo piece, (le/the) Pain, is an intimate and daring work co-produced by London International Mime Festival, Warwick Arts Centre, Jerwood Arts and Arts Council England.

Ursula Martinez is a London-based theatre-maker known for her bold and subversive work. After studying French and Theatre at Lancaster University, she launched her career in the 1990s on London’s club and cabaret scene, quickly making a name for herself with her sharp humour and provocative style.

In 1998, she created A Family Outing with director Mark Whitelaw — an autobiographical show acclaimed at the Edinburgh Fringe that became the first in a trilogy presented at Barbican B.I.T.E. 2006.

A prolific artist, Martinez has developed an eclectic body of work blending theatre, performance and international collaboration. Her notable works include My Stories, Your Emails, Free Admission, and Wild Bore, co-created with Adrienne Truscott and Zoë Coombs Marr. In 2019, she revisited her first show with A Family Outing – 20 Years On, performed alongside her 84-year-old mother.

An associate artist with Duckie, she was also part of the Olivier Award-winning phenomenon La Clique / La Soirée. As a freelance director, Martinez has helmed successful shows for artists such as Lucy McCormick and Leah Shelton. With her unique blend of humour, vulnerability and provocation, she is a key voice in contemporary performance.

Leah Marojevic is a queer, independent artist of Serbian, Montenegrin, Italian and British heritage, originally from South London and now based in Berlin. Her multidisciplinary practice spans dramaturgy, choreography, performance, rehearsal direction, writing, teaching, curation and mentorship, with a strong focus on inclusive practice and knowledge-sharing.

Leah teaches regularly for organisations such as Play for Progress — a Croydon-based charity supporting unaccompanied refugee youth — La Made School in Bordeaux, Scottish Dance Theatre, and Greenwich Dance in London. She has also led workshops, rehearsals and classes for renowned institutions and companies including Sasha Waltz & Guests (Berlin), Siobhan Davies Studios (London), the Gorki Theatre (Berlin), and Sydney Dance Company.

Her expertise has also led to collaborations with Junior Ballet Geneva, Skånes Dansteater (Sweden), Rambert School of Dance, and numerous festivals and dance centres across Europe and Australia.

A committed and passionate artist, Leah brings her experience to a wide range of pedagogical and creative projects, inspiring a new generation of dancers and makers.