Assemble Theatre Collective

Founder and Chairperson

​

Carol Hayes began Assemble Theatre Collective in 2019. She is interested in making theatre more accessible to diverse audiences by taking it outside of the traditional venue and using it as a tool to better understand our everyday world. Originally from Ireland, she has been living in Copenhagen for over 10 years, working with site-specific locations, interactive and immersive performance techniques to engage with audiences who may otherwise find theatre intimidating or inaccessible.  Her shows have ranged from post-apocalyptic Beckett in an underground bunker, to impromptu readings of feminist sexual fantasies in a crowded bar and corporate on-boarding of audiences for their first day of work at a human meat factory. 

Vice Chairperson 

​

Kristen Flanagan is an actor, voiceover artist and communicator from the US who has lived in Copenhagen for nine years. She holds a B.A. in Theatre Performance and has appeared in various performances that cut across a wide range of theatrical genres, including musicals, classical works and site-specific theatre. Notable roles include Soloist and Ensemble in ‘Shakespeare in Song’ (CPH Musical Theatre Co), Rabbit in ‘Berghain’ (Down the Rabbit Hole Theatre), and Sandra in ‘Out of the Blue’ (Assemble Theatre Collective). Kristen made her debut with Assemble in 2020 as Connie in ‘The Effect’ and has been a member of the board since 2021. 

​

www.kristen-flanagan.com

Treasurer 

Aragorn Damgaard is an actor and producer, as well as part of the management team at LiteraturHaus in Nørrebro. When Aragorn arrived in Copenhagen as a young actor, Assemble Theatre Collective was the first place to welcome him. He was one of the cast of the sold out one-night-only performance of Man Watching in 2020. He quickly became part of a vibrant community of international creatives, and he remains deeply appreciative of the openness, ease, and inclusiveness that Assemble embodies. Aragorn has been the treasurer of Assemble since 2021.

Joan M. Bentsen is a professionally trained actor and sign language interpreter who is originally from the US. She has been working in theatre and TV in Denmark for many years in diverse settings, including ten years at Jytte Abildstrøms Teater, Marionetteatret in Kongens Have and as Ælling in Bamses Billedbog. Joan first performed with Assemble Theatre Collective as part of ‘Out of the Blue’, where she, together with seven deaf women, explored sign language and Deaf Gain. As a result of this work, Joan is now continuing theatre making with the deaf community into 2024-2025.

Roger LeBlanc supports Assemble Theatre Collective with communication. Roger joined Assemble in 2023 and led the marketing efforts for ‘Out of the Blue’. Additionally, he performed as Sunny the Singing Seagull during this show. Outside of Assemble, Roger has performed with the Copenhagen Theatre Circle and the CPH Musical Theatre Co. Professionally, Roger works in strategic communication, and has supported major brands including Danfoss and Ingka IKEA.

Strategic Arts Innovator

Ellen Paulig is an actor, director, writer and teacher. Originally from Finland, she has both classical and physical theatre training and is fascinated by spoken and nonverbal language, site specific performances, and taking the audience through a wide spectrum of emotions. She has been the Strategic Arts Innovator for Assemble Theatre Collective since 2023.

​

www.ellenpaulig.com

Board member 

Sarah is the stage manager for Assemble Theatre Collective, the ‘helping hand’ that ensures all loose ends are efficiently tied together. She is dedicated to supporting a wide range of practicalities involved in staging a production, and ensures this hard work is both efficient and invisible to audiences. Sarah has been a member of Assemble since 2020, where she was the stage manager for ‘The Effect’. She has also been the stage manager for ‘Hidden Harbour’ and ‘Out of the Blue’, staged outside in Sydhavn and Nordhavn respectively. Sarah has been a member of the board since 2023.

Alice Presencer is a performer and performance maker whose work is rooted in voice and dance practices. She merges different disciplines, including singing, dancing, performance art, filmmaking and choreography to encourage the contemplation of expressive norms. Joining Assemble Theatre Collective in 2023, she was part of 'My Site in Space' and 'Out of the Blue' as a performer and choreographer. Alice now leads workshops and aids in project development for Assemble.

​

www.alicepresencer.com

Miriam Röstlinger Goldkuhl is a Swedish interdisciplinary performing artist who is based in Copenhagen. She works with acting and physical theatre as well as installation creation. When creating these installations, Miriam focuses on sensory, participant-based performing arts and how this can create space for reflection. Miriam first collaborated with Assemble Theatre Collective as part of ‘My Site in Space’ and created the ceremony concept that was performed during ‘Out of The Blue’. She is also part of the artistic leadership for the independent company Teater Vølven.

​

www.miriamrostgold.com

Gertrud Magnusson is a Danish deaf actor, multidisciplinary artist and educator. She is trained in theatre at Glad Teater and has a diverse background in performing arts, including international workshops and collaborations. She has most recently presented Dette Her Er Dansk Tegnsprog for DR and Out of The Blue with Assemble Theatre Collective and Feminine Octagon by Hite Theatre. Currently, she is active in Assemble researching and creating work around deaf culture and storytelling.