It's time to meet the mentees for SEEN Lewisham, our festival celebrating cultural diversity from Lewisham Council, Broadway and Nouveau Riche. 

Each mentee recieves a grant and bespoke mentoring from leading practicioners at IRIE! dance theatre, Powerhouse Music & Vocals and Nouveau Riche, culminating in public shows at Broadway Theatre, Catford this October. 

At just 20, Sharifa blends alt-pop, rock and indie, with BBC Proms, and KOKO Camden credits plus airplay on BBC Radio London and 1XTRA. Also a DJ spinning grime, garage and afro house, Sharifa's show transforms a bedroom set into a gig-theatre experience of live bands, guitars and cinematic staging for two unforgettable nights. 

Vocal artist, performer and facilitator whose passion for beatbox, live vocals and hip‑hop theatre has raised thousands for local charities. She runs free arts programmes for young people from working‑class backgrounds and performs across UK theatres. Nadine‑Rose's show LIEf weaves rap, beatbox and layered live vocals into a hip‑hop theatre journey about identity, family and finding a voice against the odds. 

Creates immersive narratives rooted in Caribbean heritage, blending hip hop, contemporary, afro and dancehall. Her latest piece explores systemic obstacles and strategies for survival and resistance. Arethajay's show Checkmate fuses spoken word and movement on a life-sized chessboard to charter a fighter's rise and the price of power. 

London-based choreographer combining western contemporary techniques with non-European traditions, exploring belonging and ritual. His work has been supported by Arts Council England and Dance Umbrella. Akshay's new work Leave To Remain invites audiences into a pilgrimage of body and place where memory, loss and belonging transform into joy with live Indian classical vocals.

Multidisciplinary creator making social and political issues accessible through theatre, music and cultural events. Current work draws on personal experiences of loss and motherhood. Maria's work Strong follows a British Greek Cypriot mother navigating love, faith and resilience through her daughters cancer journey with humour and heart.

Actor and writer known for Temple and I May Destroy You, and for the Olivier-nominated For Black Boys...His debut play Before I Go earned five Black British Theatre Award nominations. Tobi's play Inertia explores a virtual reality-born relationship in a playful cyberpunk world that questions love, identity and the technologies that promise freedom but keep us stuck.

Writer-actor exploring identity, power and justice, spotlighting women whose voices are often erased. Demi's debut Cranes captures an 18-year-old's first protest against austerity and the shattering consequences that reshape her future.

Pioneer of African and Caribbean dance in the UK, with a 40 year career and an MBE for services to dance. 

Acclaimed vocalist, arranger and creative director with over 25 years' experience, collaborating with global artists from Madonna to Ellie Goulding.

Producer and actor with 15+ years' experience, leading projects such as Queens of Sheba and TYPICAL.