About Us
‘Ayna’, mirror in English, also means ‘come along’. Based in the North-West, Ayna Arts is a platform for creative people to come together to empower and express themselves. Ayna aims to develop individual’s sense of community through theatre productions that explore social and humanitarian issues. While working towards building bridges between generations and cultures, we also aim to develop a new arts audience, particularly from BAME communities by encouraging them to attend arts events and reflect on the experience.
Our journey started in 2014 under the name ‘ADDA’. After 3 years, ‘ADDA’ dissolved due to some inevitable reasons and we formed ‘Ayna Arts’ in 2017 since when the group has experienced a continuous growth drawing attention from and working with other theatre, education, and community organisations such as- ‘Crossing Footprints’, ‘Purbanat’, ‘A Season of Bangla Drama’, ‘Manchester University’, ‘I Love Bangladesh’, and ‘Better We’.
Our Team
Apu
Chair
A founder director of Ayna Arts CIC, Apu Chowdhury is an accomplished actor and director who began his theatrical journey with Nagorik Natyo Goshthi in Bangladesh and later collaborated with Chol Theatre and worked as a BBC Radio presenter. He continues to inspire British Bangladeshi community by producing successful stage plays.
Luthfur
Vice Chair
A Bradford-based filmmaker and musician, Luthfur Rahman has produced telefilms exploring the Bangladeshi diaspora and often contributes music and storytelling to stage projects. A master of 13 instruments, his enchanting flute playing adds magic to Ayna’s productions.
Jesmin
Secretary
Jesmin Chowdhury, founder director of Ayna Arts CIC, is a feminist writer and playwright whose bold, thought-provoking work challenges social taboos exploring themes of domestic violence, misogyny, body-shaming, migration, and female health. Jesmin’s fearless storytelling continues to make a powerful impact in contemporary British Bangladeshi theatre.
Fazal
Joint Secretary
A civil engineer by profession, he has a deep passion for literature. He is also a writer, expressing his thoughts through eloquent words. Beneath his humility, poetry flows effortlessly, and his artistic soul is immersed in creativity.
Javed
Treasurer
Professor Javed Siddiqui is a distinguished accounting scholar at the University of Manchester, as well as an accomplished tabla player, versatile percussionist, and talented painter whose artistic expression beautifully complements his intellectual depth and cultural engagement.
Mitra
Cultural Secretary
A trained computational biologist working towards uncovering the secret of human diseases through informatics. An accomplished singer and yet reluctant to indulge in the stardom. Calls herself a foodie and her friends can certainly vouch for that.
Murad
Organising Secretary
Murad Chowdhury is an educationist, a brilliant actor, skilled photographer, and exceptional organiser. At Ayna Arts CIC, Murad’s hard work, dedication, and taking ownership of difficult tasks make complex theatre productions appear effortless contributing massively to the group’s ongoing success.
Sadi
Publicity Secretary
Abu Sayeed Chowdhury Sadi has worked in Bengali media in Britain for over a decade, following an earlier career in banking and finance in Bangladesh. His deep passion for the Bengali language and culture has inspired his long-standing involvement with Ayna Arts, where he continues to promote creativity and cultural connection.
Sabreena
Community Liaison
Eela
Social Media Manager
Sujan
Executive Member
Ahmad Ahsan (Robbie) is an entrepreneur based in Manchester, working across the food and hospitality sector. Alongside, he nurtures a deep passion for the performing arts. Acting with Ayna Arts allows him to explore storytelling, emotion, and human connection as a way to inspire and engage with diverse communities.
Jayati
Executive Member
A chemical engineering graduate and teacher, Jayati Pal has been practicing Odissi dance since childhood. She regularly performs in the UK and has a passion for creating custom party cakes, which has become one of her professional pursuits.
Mukarram
Executive Member
Computer scientist turned cancer researcher. Loves spending time with family. Avid listener to Bangla songs, loves to sing and is a budding actor.
Diba
Executive Member
Farhana Zafar Diba is a music enthusiast and a keen explorer of Bengali folk and modern songs. Diba pursued her higher studies in management and accounting at the University of Manchester and University of Dhaka, and currently works as a Business Analyst at Lex Autolease, a subsidiary of the Lloyds Banking Group.
Udoy
Executive Member
Luna
Executive Member
Kooj
Advisor
Kooj Chuhan is a filmmaker and creative producer who directs Crossing Footprints, a Community Interest Company working on creative action for human rights, environment, equality and wellbeing. With over 30 years of collaborative creative activity, he is a founding member of Virtual Migrants and has led award-winning projects connecting race, migration and climate change.
Adam
Advisor
Adam is a community artist, poet, and PhD tutor at University of Leeds living in Colne Valley, West Yorkshire. His three books are published by Wrecking Ball, Graft, and Valley Press. He co-founded Chol Theatre, leads 6 million+ Charitable Trust, and collaborates with Balbir Singh Dance Company and refugee projects. He specializes in Chinese and Japanese theatre, lanterns, and giant puppets.
Jayne
Advisor
Trainee high intensity CBT therapist (studying masters in CBT therapy at Salford University)
Qualified person centred counsellor – currently working part-time as a Counsellor for Health Assured.
Experience of working with victims of DV in Styal Women’s prison, Rochdale Women’s Welfare Association.
Alishba
Member
Abdin
Member
Abdin Khan is a Burnley based actor/filmmaker with a passion for storytelling ignited at age 12 through YouTube sketches, vlogs, and short films. Abdin honed his craft early, blending humour, eccentricity, and sharp visual flair. A versatile talent, he freelanced as a videographer – shooting weddings, ads, and promos while working as a Support Worker for people with complex care.
His recent work include working alongside David Morrisey in Series 2 of Daddy Issues and independent film, Bodily Harm , directed by Luke Mayers.
Dipu
Member
Naif
Member
Muaaz
Member
Fareeza
Member
Fareeza ‘Faree’ Siddiqui is a year 6 at Brookland Primary School, Sale. She has keen interest in art, music and fashion.
Azad
Member
Zoha
Member
Tahera
Member
Maisha
Member
Maisha Fazal is an A’ level student at Altrincham Grammar School for Girls. She holds a blue belt in karate and is working towards achieving a black belt. A talented actor, Maisha enjoys painting and playing the violin her spare time.
Arisha
Member
Arisha Fazal is a Year 7 student at Firs Primary School. She holds a blue belt in karate and is working towards a black belt. In her spare time, she enjoys drama, drawing and playing the piano.
Munni
Member
Shamima Fazal Munni is a sociable person with a deep passion for cooking, gardening, and listening to music. She completed a BA (Hons) in Business and entrepreneurship and facilitates Ayna Arts’s productions with enthusiasm.
Martina
Member
From the Czech Republic, Martina Cujanova left when she was 18 to travel the world and experience different cultures; after 12 years of traveling she settled in the UK .
Mousumi
Member
Mousumi Sengupta is a Person-Centred Counsellor with over 20 years’ experience in helping professions. She specialises in trauma and complex grief, with a background in teaching and supporting the elderly to reduce social isolation through community engagement. Mousumi enjoys acting and is developing her acting skills to further enhance her ability to connect with and support others.
Miraj
Member
Gobinda
Member
Faizan
Member
Faizan Siddiqui is a year 11 student at Sale Grammar School, Trafford. He’s interested in football and is involved in various voluntary activities.
Shaheen
Member
Shaheen Chowdhury is a mental health and mental capacity advocate as well as a passionate campaigner of the VAWG strategy. She has intense devotion for promoting wellbeing through unveiling the power of art to create social change. She is a great believer of working outside boxes; and has the appetite, skills and vision to do something different.
