Hey, I've got an idea about creating a theatre company... what do you think?

Samantha Hough

Hi, I'm Sam, Artistic director and a mum of 3 who is passionate about the performing arts and the importance of all young people having access to it.
​ As a life time lover of the performing arts I feel that for many, including me the arts offers a wonderful form of escapism from stresses of everyday life. That it is a way to truly express ourselves, without fear and to become fully submersed in the moment. It is an expressive form of meditation and vital for the heart, mind and body. I feel truly alive when i am performing! 
​My performing arts education started as a child and lead to completing my BA in Performing Arts in 1999. I then focused on raising my children but continued to teach dance and perform with the Imajica Dance Company, Affinity Tribal, The Cancan Collective and Girls on Fire. 
While working part times as an LSA for a child with Cerebral Palsy in a primary school, to decide if i wanted to be a complete my teacher training I had many opportunities to explore my arts experience with young people and decided that I needed to return to my roots so Imajica Theatre was born.

Julie Steadman

 Creative Director Julie Steadman, a early years educational specialist and mum of 2 joined Imajica shortly after its creation, invited by Samantha to partner her as both shared a similar artistic direction.
​ Julie has many years experience in Child-led education and is a natural born entertainer.  Her energy is contagious, her focus is on creativity, and she loves creating set and costumes alongside acting in the shows.
As Creative Director Julie brings her  love of the steampunk movement to life within the Imajica Theatre wardrobe. Julie's creative flare has been realised since joining Imajica and she enjoyed the challenge of dressing each new production as it is created. 
Julie has also developed a love of script writing skills and has written many productions for Imajica Theatre. 
Working for Imajica Theatre has provided an opportunity for Julie to develop her performance and creative skills which has been an important part of our company development. 

Kimberly Black 

​Kimberly Black joined Imajica in 2016 and she soon took us into a new direction vocally taking on the role as Musical Director.  
​Kim is a vocal coach and singing teacher who has been working in the performing arts industry for many years. After graduating from the Poor school in 2012 she has focused on musical theatre and working as a professional singer.  
Under the musical direction of Kim Imajica has developed a successful way to use modern pop songs to tell the messages their stories. Each new production brings new exciting harmonies and vocal arrangements. Kim has a natural talent of bringing out the best of our team. 
Kim is director of Spirit of the Old Town, an interactive historical ghost walk in the Old Town of Hemel Hempstead who won the Dacorum’s Den in 2016. 
Alongside writing poetry books which are available here Kim sings in acoustic trio called Neon Sky, click here to find out more info. 
​Kim is an amazing community artist and young people are drawn to her creative energy and calm personality.

Pete Holland

Pete joined Imajica Theatre in 2019 and shortly after we realised he brought lots of new skills to the team. His experience in the technical side of theatre has moved us forward developing our sound and lighting capabilities along with music production. 
Pete has always enjoyed acting, loving to make people laugh and during his school years he performed in plays, played Tuba, studied Tap dancing and drama.
 Pete gained a BTEC in Performing Arts from West Herts Collage while working backstage for an amateur dramatics company doing sound and lighting and various other technical duties which led to working as stage crew for the Watford Colosseum, for 5 years. 
 Pete has been working as a freelance theatre technician for over 10 years now, mainly at RADA Studios where he looks after radio shows being recorded for the BBC.
Pete is an accomplished musician with his bands Trippy Wicked and Elephant Tree, producing and recording music and touring around England and Europe, and even across the pond to Las Vegas and New York. 
Working with Imajica has provided the opportunity to return to acting on stage. 

Laura-Jayne Ross

Lj Ross joined Imajica in 2015 and alongside acting also helps with creating choreographies. She also spends a lot of time touring with the Walt Disney Company. 

Layla Smith 

Layla has been with Imajica since it's creation and her main role is of Stage Manager, Sound technician and company photographer. 
Alongside support our actors on stage Layla is often front of house meeting and greeting customers and completes administration for Imajica. 
​Layla is also a performer of bellydance, Cancan Cabaret  and Fire dancer and also joins us as a meet and greet character for cooperate events. 
Layla works as part of the Barefoot Festival Entertainment team and also runs a Tribal Bellydance Residential weekend with Sam Hough. 
​Since our creation in 2014, we have created 16 interactive musical productions, 5 pantomimes and 8 commissions. We have worked with community groups; charitable organisations and other community groups to create commissions for specific events including celebrating the 100th Anniversary of both the Cub Scouts, and the Hertfordshire Bee Keepers Association, and with Veolia Water and their waste warriors programme.
Our company has grown organically from its creation,  creating new materials when asked and our actors have all crossed our path by invitiation from one of the other members.. Everyone of our artists past and present has brought new skils and will always be an important part of our journey.
​We have performed for both intimate audiences and large audiences over 2000 for both Cub Jam and the Cubs 100, both organised by the Scouting Association. We have worked with both national and local charity events that work with families and young people, in schools throughout the UK, performing both shows and interactive workshops. We have worked with schools for themed educational and social events and summer festivals including Standon Calling, Barefoot Festival, Into the Wild and Rhythms of the World.
​We have developed an innovative theatre in education programme over the past 4 years, listening to the needs of the schools and expanding on our previous experiences of working in a school environment. We have been highly praised for our original delivery, and we have also delivered interactive performing arts workshops with local community groups.
​From its creation Imajica has always been about individuality, we do not fit the stereotypical artist mould, and welcome all artists who inspire us and understand our ethos and holistic delivery. Our artists all have a background in community work and experience in performance therapy and a good understanding of psychology. 
​Many of our artists have invisible disabilities, which strengthens our understanding of the audiences we aspire to reach. With years of experience in working with children, young people and teaching, our artists bring a wealth of skills to the team in both the performing and creative arts.

Want to join our team?

We are always interested in hearing from creative folk who feel they could bring personality, enthuasium and help share our positive messages. You need experienced musical theatre, working with young people in the community and immersive relaxed theatre practice. 
**Performing Arts Students **
​please contact us about work experience
Email [email protected] to send us you CV or to chat more about working with us. 

Past Members

Tom Watson 

Actor & Script Writer 

Emma Palfreman 

Actor & Set Designer

Tony Hartley

Actor

Lea Ellis

Actor & Set Designer 

Our Extended Family 

Mark Crane & Tom Watkins

Aaron Steadman

Chianna Bailey

Zuza Tenhanu

Justin Steadman 

Jackie Hartley 

Emily Minnie Jacques 

Charlie Roberts