Toria Banks - director, writer, dramaturg, teacher, & co-founder of HERA

Toria recalls dancing around her living room to Simon and Garfunkel, and insisting on learning to play the piano - with no urging from her parents. Critiquing her dad’s acting skills at the age of three, Toria went on to explore the world of improvisation at university and trying her hand at directing with her very understanding group of friends. As she continued to explore her craft, working freelance in different capacities, she hid her illness with ME until she realised she had to adapt her ways of working. Toria went on to co-found HERA with Linda Hirst and Simone Ibbettt-Brown, an intersectional feminist company making and touring inclusive opera and music theatre by women and gender-minoritised artists. Toria speaks openly about the highs and lows of navigating her path through the industry. Find out more about HERA here Follow Toria on Twitter here