Evandro João Silva

Evandro João Silva was AfroReggae's coordinator of social projects. In the early hours of last Sunday, Evandro was murdered in the streets of Rio de Janeiro. He had been with AfroReggae for nine years, setting up the project Breaking through Barriers in the community of Parada de Lucas where he lived.

He taught Information Technology to young people from his community and became a highly skilled conflict mediator in the ongoing wars between rival drug factions. In 2004, his courage, belief and determination guided us through the programme Love in a Time of War - a collaboration between AfroReggae and People's Palace Projects which took performances of Shakespeare on to borders of conflict.

In recent years, Evandro taught violin at the AfroReggae Cultural Centre he dedicated his life to setting up in his community. It was the young people with their violins from that Centre who were playing at his funeral this week. Evandro João will be remembered wherever AfroReggae plays and in the hopes and dreams of all those who believe the world can and must change for the better. His smile and his sword will continue to shine. Our performances in Newcastle are dedicated to him - Together Apart forever.

Noël Greig

Noël was a radical and creative force in British theatre for over three decades. His name will forever be associated with The Gay Sweatshop, where from 1977-87 he wrote and directed a series of ground-breaking plays that forged new territory for audiences, actors and activists.

His understanding of the power of theatre to bring about social change and personal transformation was forged during the late '60s and early '70s, when he was a founding member of The Brighton Combination, Inter Action and The General Will. The lessons he learned in those political and cultural alliances were ones that he practised and taught all his life through his work with companies as diverse as Graeae, Royal Court, Birmingham Rep, Theatre Centre and Contact.

Playwriting: a practical guide [Routledge 2005] quickly became a seminal handbook, drawing together a lifetime's experience and care in working with writers, directors and actors. It is a testament to Noël's vision of a theatre that is unbounded but crafted, based on the intensely personal connections we all make to the world around us. He knew better than anyone how to fill the political stage with the dreams and desires of our inner worlds.

His work with young people lies at the heart of a theatre that is founded on hope and belief in a better future. In recent years he has worked closely with the Contacting the World project based in Manchester, and through this programme he has continued to influence a new generation of theatre makers across the world.

Noël's work with People's Palace Projects was inspirational - full of hope and love. He led workshops, advised on projects and motivated our work across the last twelve years as he will forever do in the future.