Ilayda McIntosh is an award winning playwright and actor, based between London and Manchester. As an actor, she studied English and Drama at Queen Mary University, and later trained with National Youth Theatre, Identity School of Acting, Mary Doherty’s Actors Class, Generation Arts and many more. As a writer, Ilayda is part of Soho Theatre Writers Lab, Alumni Group, Talawa’s Introductory Writers Group and Artistic Associate at Nouveau Riche. As a facilitator, she works regularly with Arcola Theatre’s Youth Theatre and 50+ theatre groups, she has also trained as a facilitator with National Youth Theatre. She has trained as a Mental Health First Aider, and has a focused interest in well-being led community work. Her full time work is as a Marketing and Communications Manager at the regional arts organisation, Metal Culture.