My Background
Mimmi Bauer is a London-based theatremaker, director, and performer. She completed her A-levels in Oxfordshire and earned her BA in Politics from the University of Kent in 2013. Mimmi completed her MA in Advanced Theatre Practice at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama in December 2022.
In 2019 she co-founded the experimental theatre company TAKDAJA. Within the collective, she directs, performs and produces.
Their piece 'Fruits, or the Decline of a Distant Memory', was presented at RADA Studio during the Camden Fringe in 2019. The production was also featured at the VAULT Festival in 2023 and was nominated for an OFFIE award. Notably, the company secured Arts Council Funding for their R&D project 'Three Billion Letters'. The work in progress was presented at Greenwich Theatre in June 2023.
In addition, she has most recently collaborated with the theatre company Soap Box, with whom she devised and performed ‘Strange Contagions’ at Camden People’s Theatre in June 2023. She also performed in Deadweights ‘The Mannikins’ by Jack Aldisert at Kunstraum (London) in June 2023.
Mimmi’s artistic journey began in improv, where she attended IO (Improv Olympics) and UCB (Upright Citizens Brigade) in Los Angeles, as well as Hoopla and the FA (Free Association) in London. During this period, she actively participated in improv teams like Just Friends, Margret!, and the Hoopla house team ‘33 Johnsons Lane’.
Mimmi expanded her skills into clowning through training at the Why Not Institute with Angela DeCastro and Stephen Sobal, as well as attending workshops led by John Wright and Lucy Hopkins. Drawing from her experiences, she crafted and performed her solo clown show, 'Mimi: The Average Mermaid', which she showcased at the Phoenix Arts Club during the Camden Fringe in 2019 and at the Omnibus Theatre's Engine Room scratch night in June 2023.
How I work
I thrive on open communication and a non-hierarchical approach to work. Successful devising, for me, hinges on creating an environment where individuals feel safe and empowered to share their creative ideas.
In my professional journey, open communication is a cornerstone. I believe that fostering an atmosphere where everyone's voice is valued leads to richer outcomes. By challenging traditional hierarchies, I strive to create a level playing field where every contribution is given equal consideration, promoting a culture of mutual respect and collaboration.
My background in improv and clowning significantly shapes my methodology, emphasizing spontaneity, adaptability, and embracing the unexpected. Just as improvisation demands quick thinking and seamless collaboration, I seek to infuse these qualities into the creative processes I lead.
The rehearsal room, to me, is a canvas for exploration, where playfulness is a vital tool. Encouraging team members to experiment, take risks, and explore uncharted territories fosters a culture that not only builds camaraderie but also encourages a positive outlook on challenges and failures as valuable learning experiences.
In essence, my professional approach blends open communication and a strategic infusion of playfulness. Drawing from the principles of improv and clowning, I aspire to create an environment where individuals collaborate with freedom and enthusiasm, transforming the devising process into a journey where everyone contributes unique perspectives to craft a masterpiece of creativity.