SUPPORT OUR CAMPAIGNS

# StopItBeforeItStarts​

# MonsterHeads

# StopItNow!

---

• ABOUT THE COMPANY

<

>

Naked Frank Theatre are a physical theatre company, who specialise in arts engagement to support mental health recovery. Founded in 2013 and artistically directed by Carleigh-Ann Portelli and Claire Louise Portelli, the company create bold, hard hitting and truthful theatre, with the aim of telling the untold and unnoticed stories of those whom have not had the opportunity to share their voice. 

"We don't believe that theatre can change the world, but it can change an opinion. Change enough opinions and you might just change the world."

As well as producing new theatre, the company also work closely alongside the community; striving to engage those whom would otherwise struggle to enjoy the arts. Their outreach work allows them to interact directly with the public and support the challenge of addressing controversial topics. Naked Frank Theatre encourage individuals to get involved in artistic projects and regularly host new events, workshops and campaigns for people to take part in. 
(For more information on workshops, campaigns and events that you can join in with, click on the JOIN IN button at the top of the screen.)

The company's work is often, but not exclusively, aimed at young people and vulnerable or disadvantaged communities. This ethos means that their work is always written and produced to have a positive impact on their audiences or the subjects being tackled. 

"We're not shy about challenging opinions and educating communities or groups of people on controversial topics. We don't believe in making theatre for the sake of theatre. All entertainment must serve a purpose." 
 
As a non-profit organisation Naked Frank Theatre rely heavily on funding and support in-kind to produce work and run projects.

•      ABOUT THE TEAM     

<

>

# ​Carleigh-Ann Portelli

CO-FOUNDER & ARTISTIC DIRECTOR

---

Actor, Writer, Physical Theatre Artist & Theatre Director

​Carleigh-Ann Portelli began her professional at the Miskin Theatre in 2006 where she trained for three years in Acting and Performing Arts. ​In 2009, after playing lead roles in various productions, she was given the opportunity to work in collaboration with a primary school. Working alongside seven professional actors, she wrote and directed the show, What A Spectaculaire Mess! starring the children, parents and teachers of the school. She then began teaching for a short while before returning back to training; this time in Physical Theatre at East 15 Acting School. Over three years she explored a range of disciplines including; acrobatics, mime, commedia dell' arte, clowning, bio-mechanics, mask, aerial, suzuki, melodrama, puppetry, stage combat and contact improvisation; and was directed by such names as Filomena Campus, Mark Bell and Ian Morgan. During this time she also worked with a number of well established theatre companies including; Para-Active, Complicite, Odin Teatret and Jasmin Vardimon Company. In 2012, after performing The Darkside Of The Frame; a solo production written and devised by herself, she became the Assistant Director and cast member of Skinhead!, a production devised by the cast, Concrete Jumble, and directed by Sean Dupont. She then founded NAKED FRANK THEATRE with Claire Louise Portelli.

GALLERY

# ​Claire Louise PORTELLI

CO-FOUNDER & ARTISTIC DIRECTOR

---

Actor, Singer, Physical Theatre Artist & Theatre Maker

Claire Louise Portelli began her professional training in 2004 at the Miskin Theatre where she trained in Acting, Dance and Musical Theatre. During this time she took on the directorial role of a Greek chorus and even stared within the production 'And The River Weeps', an adaptation of Ariel Dorfmann's 'Widows'.  She then began training at East 15 Acting School, this time in Physical Theatre, where she gained skills such as Grotowski movement techniques, corporeal mime, contact improvisation, commedia dell' arte, clowning, aerial, static trapeze, acrobatics, bio-mechanics, butou, capoera, suzuki, melodrama, stage combat, mask, puppetry and stage management. During this time Claire was also directed by such names as Filomena Campus, Marcello Magni, Antonio Fava, James Sutherland and Rafe Beckley; and before graduating in 2010, worked on a promenade production of Georg Buchner's 'Woyzeck' with U.K. based theatre company Para-Active. 'H. H. Sexual Correct' was Claire's first devised solo piece of theatre. It explored the attitudes of society towards homosexuals and revealed the truth about gay love. 'What would happen if the straight person became the minority?' After appearing in 'Skinhead!' directed by Sean William Dupont she founded NAKED FRANK THEATRE with Carleigh-Ann Portelli.

CLAIRE'S GALLERY