Malene Sheppard Skærved is a Danish born writer/filmmaker who moved to the USA in her teens, before coming to London in the late 1990s. Her work hinges on the relationship between travelling performers and writings, and their sense of place. This is reflected in her biographical work on Marlene Dietrich and Hans Christian Anderson. Her creation of a personal mythology is deeply rooted in people’s use of storytelling to facilitate travel, crafts, religion and the day-to-day. She is currently making a documentary with painter, Joanna Jones, an opera with Sadie Harrison and a film for Wilton’s Music Hall. She teaches creative writing at Goldsmiths University, London.