Shaping Age

Martin O’Brien is an artist and zombie. He works across performance, writing and video art. His work uses long durational actions, short speculative texts and critical rants, and performance processes in order to explore death and dying, what it means to be born with a life shortening disease, and the philosophical implications of living longer than expected.

Ione Gamble is the founding editor-in-chief of Polyester and host of the Polyester podcast. She has come to be known as a powerful force in both driving and analysing contemporary feminism, arts, culture and identity. Her debut non-fiction essay collection, Poor Little Sick Girls, was published by Dialogue to widespread critical acclaim.

Gina Tonic is a culture writer from South Wales who has been named ‘the writer and editor empowering a generation of fat babes’ by Dazed Beauty. Holding the role of senior editor at intersectional feminist publication Polyester, Gina has interviewed the likes of Gemma Collins, Isa Briones, CupCakKe, Courtney Eaton, Chappell Roan and more. Her first book, Greedy Guts, released last year.

Nihon Ten is a multi‑genre DJ and producer with over 30 years of experience, whose work treats music as something that evolves over time rather than settles into fixed categories.

Jonny Cotsen is a qualified art teacher who transitioned into work as a performance artist and creative consultant, with a strong focus on inclusion and access in the arts. He is an experienced public speaker, workshop facilitator, and panellist on arts accessibility. Jonny performed in Louder Is Not Always Clearer at the Edinburgh Fringe in 2019. The show was later adapted into a BBC Arts–supported short film, which received BAFTA nomination recognition. Jonny won Best Actor and Best Film at Deaffest 2022. He is also the founder of Deaf Gwdihŵ, an initiative exploring the experiences of Deaf and Hard of Hearing creatives in Wales.

Toby is an RTS Cymru and BAFTA Cymru-winning producer and director proudly living in the Welsh Valleys. He is the founder of Cardiff-based On Par Productions. Toby is attracted to stories of those not often given a voice and fascinated by placing people in others’ shoes. This led him to collaborate with Jonny Cotsen to show others how Jonny hears and sees the world using graphics, recon, and sound manipulation.

The Liminal Space is an award-winning design and engagement agency creating ground-breaking experiences that connect people to social topics. Their multi-sensory experiences use storytelling, fictional world-building and hands-on exploration to bring spaces and ideas to life. We’ve delivered creative experiences for museums and cultural organisations including: V&A, Natural History Museum, Museum of the Home, Museum of London, Barbican, Ulster Museum, Selfridges, UKRI, Nesta and NHS England. 

Polyester is a self-published, intersectional feminist arts and culture publication aiming to bridge the gap of url cyberfeminism with the irl world. Catering to a community of feminist, savvy Gen Z and Millennial women, Polyester was named one of the freshest, most creative indie print magazines by the New York Times in April 2025.