In this episode of Career Sparks with Val ✨, host Val sits down with ⁠Maria Askew⁠, Head of the MA in Theatre for Community and Education at Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts in London.

Maria is a multi-hyphenate creative: director, facilitator, performer, writer, and educator.

They explore Maria’s journey from performer to purpose-driven educator, how she integrates her skills across disciplines, and what it means to lead with creativity in a diverse community.

Key takeaways:

• Theatre as a tool for change: when used in facilitation and education, theatre becomes a powerful method for communication, empathy-building, and problem solving.

• Creative skills are transferable: skills from the arts—like storytelling, collaboration, and embodiment—are valuable across fields like healthcare, education, and corporate training.

• Portfolio careers with purpose: you don’t have to choose one path. A career built across disciplines can be both intentional and deeply fulfilling.

• Facilitation over instruction: learning environments thrive when knowledge is co-created. Facilitators can inspire reflection, vulnerability, and shared growth.

• Embrace cross-pollination: blurring boundaries between disciplines can lead to innovation and deeper understanding.

• Celebrate diversity and plurality: working across cultures, ages, and backgrounds brings richer outcomes. True collaboration depends on difference, not uniformity.

• • Sustainable careers in the arts: community, collaboration, and advocacy are vital for creating long-term, meaningful opportunities for artists and creatives.

  
  

  If you're interested about working with the arts, or are considering new, creative ways to use your skills, this episode is for you.

  
  

  Tune in now!🎧

  
  

  You can check Maria's official website here.

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  Original music by Renato Šoša

  Recording and producing by Valeria Kadelski