The Human Frame
My work, as an actor and human rights campaigner, sits at the crossroads of human rights and the arts, exploring how creativity can reveal the deeper truths of what it means to be human. Through The Human Frame, I bring together artists, activists, and thinkers to explore how performance can become a form of resistance, empathy, and change.
The Human Frame
The Anatomy of Storytelling: Melanie Spencer on Writing, Process & Reinvention
In this thoughtful and energising episode of The Human Frame, Łucja sits down with Melanie Spencer, writer, director, creative coach, and long-time architect of stories, to explore the deep connections between creativity, identity, and the science of storytelling.
Melanie reflects on her journey through acting, writing, directing, and now creative coaching, sharing how years of navigating the industry shaped her understanding of story as both an artistic tool and a form of healing. She opens up about her philosophy of “story science,” the emotional landscapes behind the creative process, and the personal experiences that shaped her unique approach to coaching artists.
Together, they explore:
✨ How story “rewires” us and why humans are biologically shaped for narrative
✨ Creativity as a tool for self-understanding, healing, and resistance
✨ Navigating the challenges of being a working-class creative in an industry of barriers
✨ The realities of burnout, reinvention, and reclaiming your artistic voice
✨ Melanie’s vision for Artists Anonymous, a supportive, accessible space for creatives
✨ Why storytelling remains one of the most powerful tools we have for making meaning
A warm, insightful, and deeply human episode for anyone who creates, or wants to.
Follow:
🔗 Melanie's website
Follow The Human Frame:
Instagram
Host: Łucja Hawking
Music: Yago Cardalda