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Biography - Tanya Myers / Also known as Juanita McMahon

Born in Stoke on Trent, she grew up in the Sussex Countryside, finally moving to her Mother's favourite Seaside resort - Brighton in her teens. After travelling extensively , she trained in Drama Studies at Aberystwyth University and graduated from Dartington College of Arts with a BA Honours in Theatre Studies in 1983. In 1984 she gave birth to her first Daughter, Lily.

Tanya was politically involved in direct action (1982-85), both at Greenham Common and in London, during which she produced "The Fence" together with Common Ground, which was also published by Methuen in 1985.

In 1985 she set up Meeting Ground Theatre Company, together with playwright Stephen Lowe based in Nottingham.

Between 1986 and 1994, Tanya produced and acted in all the new writing projects with Meeting Ground. Projects included Strive, Desire, Demon Lovers and Paradise (a musical co-production with the Nottingham Playhouse based upon 2 years of extensive workshopping with national and local participants re-evaluating the Luddite Movement)

She researched and presented Central TV's "City of Women", a documentary on women in the Lace Market with Steve Englehart in 1986.Whilst teaching at Nottingham Trent University in both the Theatre Design and Performing Arts Departments, she went on to work with Tamzin Griffin to produce "Pushing On", a large scale street choreography for pushchairs and wheelchairs and "Dance for the Girls", an exploration of ancestral possession which toured nationally, inspired by their attendance at the 1986 Magdalena workshops.

Tanya became centrally involved in the International Womens Magdalena Project (director Jill Greenhalgh) where she met Zofia Kalinska who continued to Collaborate with Meeting Ground for 10 years. She produced and acted in all the International Productions such as "The Sale of the Demonic Women" (Based on the writings of Witkiewitcz) and Plaisirs D'Amour (The award winning production based upon the story of Abelard and Heloise) touring Poland, Germany and Britain.

Also during 1987-1994, Tanya worked frequently at Derby Playhouse with Annie Castledine on plays: (Betty) in "Touched" by Stephen Lowe, (Lona) in "Sunday's Children" by Gerlind Reinshagen, (Rowena) in "Masterpieces" by Sarah Daniels and "The Tales of Robin Hood" (playing Robin Hood).

In 1993, she played (Phasie) in Crimes of Passion, directed by Pir Broughton at the Nottingham Playhouse and returned to the Magdalena festival, together with her mother (Pearl Myers) and her daughter (Lily) to perform 'Florence' - a tribute to 4 generations of women (see feminist Theatre Practise by Elaine Ashton published by Routledge)

In 1994 she wrote, produced and directed her own play "Falling Angels" with Meeting ground which toured nationally.
In February 1994, she gave birth to her second daughter Martha.
In 1995 she performed in "The Promise" written by Cathy Lesurf (ex- Albion band and Fairport Convention)
In 1997, Tanya married Stephen Lowe at Elvaston Castle, celebrating 18 years of life and friendships.

Over the following 10 years 1995-2005, Tanya worked mostly in film and television, appearing in Shane Meadows films; "Smalltime", "24/7" and "Room for Romeo Brass", in "The Trick"(Best Short film 1996) and the British internet transmission for "The Blairwitch", both directed by Rob Green. Later in 2003 she appeared in the award winning short "Innocent Pink" directed by Paul Whittington. (Thanks to the perseverance of a generation of film pioneers in and around Nottingham, technical/production and script training through Intermedia, and development of the Broadway Media Centre, Nottingham has become an exciting place, to be connected with new film work, or involved in improvisations and development of ideas in their early stages. During these years, training, collaborating with and acting alongside, Dina Smiles, Mark Davenport, Steve Sheils, Chris Cooke, Fran Boyle, Frank Abbot, Roger Knott Fayle, Shane Meadows, Ian Smith, Su Ansell just to name a few, has been refreshing and inspiring)

Her Television appearances include: No Bullying (Central TV) which won the best childrens TV award 1996; The Bill(LWT), Emmerdale (YTV), This is Personal - The Story of the Yorkshire Ripper (YTV)Directed by David Richards, Insiders directed by Danny Hilliers (BBC), Casualty (BBC) directed by Robert del Maestro, Heartbeat(YTV) Holby City(BBC), Doctors(BBC) directed by Christopher Timothy, Dr Terribles House of Horrible (Baby Cow) directed by Matt Lipsey and more recently The Marchioness (YTV), directed by Ken Horn. Silent Witness(BBC) directed by Bruce Goodison

1999-2000, Tanya toured the much acclaimed "Teeth Like Razors" together with Cathy Lesurf and Curt Glanz, based upon the writings of Brecht and Music by Weill and Eisler. Followed by "The Mobius Twist"( 2003) written by Cathy and later "The Difference"(2004) written and devised by Michael Wilson and Curt Glanz. She played Martha in Quarantine at Birmingham Rep, directed by Bill Alexander (2000).

There was a significant shift back to the Theatre in 2003. In response to the developing Meeting Ground/AZ Theatre "War Stories" project - Tanya collaborated with Lily, her eldest daughter, in the making of "Shoes", directed by Tom Wright.; An exploration of young and old suicides with age roles reversed between mother and daughter. These performances mark the continuation of a life time theme of personal work, focusing upon "The Family" in both a literal and metaphorical capacity. ; Also, 2000-2008 proved to be regularly inspired by collaborations with young people and academia; either teaching in academic institutions such as Lincoln University, Nottingham Trent (Theatre Design) and Nottingham University, or for the Arts Council's Creative Partnerships Drama projects in Schools, also teaching 'Acting For camera' at Broadway Media Centre.

In response to 9/11, she launched the 'Story Chair' project into a local Primary school. Children were invited to interact with a chair's mysterious arrival into their playground. Over time, they were encouraged to find it a home inside their school, eventually creating for it, an intimate environment congenial to the sharing of stories between ages, ethnicity and faith. (The project was documented by local film makers and the children themselves).

She supported by reading/performing when working with the Arts Council's, Young Writers 'Momentum' Festivals (2006,07& 08) and in professional productions focusing on young people including; (her own play)- 'Small Waves' directed by Tom Wright, and at Nottingham Playhouse, in Children of the Crown by Nick Wood 2006 and Tom's Midnight Garden, (2008) both directed by Andrew Breakwell.

In 2005, Tanya wrote and performed "Small Waves" together with her youngest daughter, Martha (12yrs) - exploring the question of exile and post trauma depression. Autumn 2005, Stephen Lowe was commissioned by Tangere Arts to write "The Fox", inspired by DH Lawrence. Tanya played Ellie in this Premiere Tour.

In the Spring 2006,Mother and daughter travelled to Canada and performed "Small Waves" at the Methodica Theatre in Vancouver, where the work received a powerful and moving response from an audience familiar with the reality of transmigration and loss.

Later that Summer, both Martha and Tanya were cast in the feature film 'Control' directed by Anton Corbijn. The film based on the life story of Ian Curtis from 'Joy Division', featuring Samantha Morton and Sam Riley. Control Won best British Film BIFA award in 2007. Tanya and Martha played Curtis's mother and sister respectively.

2006 Autumn, She joined Take Art to tour new play by Shiona Morton,'The rain Has Voices', This production launched Somerset's first New Writing Theatre Company and toured throughout villages and towns in Somerset and Dorset with huge success.

At the end of 2005, Anna Furse- artistic director of Athletes of the Heart invited Tanya to collaborate in an exciting European cyberspace improvisation, exploring the legendary Don Juan, an icon of male sexuality . Anna Furse directed Don Juan Who? in Slovenia, as a co-production between her own Company 'Athletes of the Heart' and Mladinsko Theatre Ljubljana (between 2006-2008). The Don Juan Who? Company joined Anna on this extraordinary project, improvising anonymously, every Sunday evening for one year, in Cyberspace 2006-7. In September 2007, in Ljubljana, 'Don Juan Who?' was performed in 3 languages; Slovene, Italian and English. 'Don Juan Who?' Previewed in the UK at London Shunt Studios October 2007, and Premiered at the FeEast Festival in London, at the Riverside Studios in Nov 2008.

In Spring 2007: Tanya worked on two 'First Light Movie' Films, working as acting advisor with young refuges; "Broken Journey" and "Photo cyclist."

2008 was busy throughout the seasons. Her Audio Books include; The French Gardener by Santa Montifiore and The Alchemist's Daughter. Television included; Casualty (BBC) and Silent Witness. (BBC)

In spring 2008, Tanya played 'Deborah', an ex-war photographer, in SMILE, an emotive, dark comedy/thriller written by Stephen Lowe, directed by Matt Aston which premiered at Lakeside Theatre in Nottingham. SMILE was performed together with Dan Copeland. Stephen Lowe wrote SMILE, inspired by, and as a contribution to, the War Stories Project. (see above)

In June/July 08, Tanya played Mrs Bartholomew, in Tom's Midnight Garden written by Philippa Pearce, at Nottingham Playhouse.

July and August 2008, Film maker Su Ansell asked Tanya to collaborate on her film Rock -A Bye-Bye, to be produced and distributed by Threshold Studios. A dreamscape: the poetic film script is based on the true story of Betty Kenny, the C18th charcoal burner, who lived together with her family in an old Yew tree, whose branches served as cradles for her babies.

In September 2008, Tanya was invited by IOCT professor at De-Montfort University, Martin Rieser, to narrate his poetic 'docu-drama' - 'Heat: The street', as part of the RMIT Heat exhibition in Melbourne Australia .
On returning from Ljubljana in October, 'Don Juan Who?' premiered at Riverside Studios, London November 2008.

In Jan/Feb 2009, 'GLAMOUR', another new play by Stephen Lowe, directed by Bill Alexander opened at Nottingham Playhouse, with Tanya playing Connie Partridge, an ex- girlfriend of the Kray Brothers, hiding out with peripheral gang member, Frank, in a seedy 1960's Arts cinema in Nottingham, the Moulin Rouge. The extraordinary thing about this play, as wild and at times farcical, as it seemed, it was based on true facts! Tanya acted in a pseudo 1960's 'naturalist film' that was incorporated into the play which featured a naked badminton game! Filmed by Roger Knott- Fayle. Like SMILE, GLAMOUR celebrated the fusion of film, cutting edge digital media and theatre, building on creative collaborations with Digital Media Designer, Barratt Hodgson and Roger Knott Fayle.

In March/April 2009 Tanya played a character called Hermione, a closet Tango enthusiast, in 'Skeletons' a film set Derbyshire, directed by writer/director Nick Whitfield, produced by Puregrass/ForwardFilms.

She is currently writing a new 'rites of Passage play called 'Sail Away' in collaboration with her mother, exploring 'a journey to eternity and back', through a passage of dementia and the tricky processes of birth and aging! Hopefully to be performed by her mother (Pearl Myers), herself and two daughters Lily and Martha in Autumn 2010.

Tanya is a member of SGI-UK, the International Buddhist Lay Organisation committed to creating a peaceful global society based on the teachings of Nichiren Daishonin; through the promotion of humanitarian culture, education and a process known as 'Human Revolution'.

"A great human revolution in just a single individual will help achieve a change in the destiny of a nation, and further, can even enable a change in the destiny of all humankind.” - President Daisaku Ikeda