Bio
Hola!
I’m Miguel Umba. I’m a filmmaker and Director. I create moving images, stories, and experiences that move people, emotionally, physically and politically.
I started as an actor, a performer, and I still am. But directing came as a natural result of my instinct to take responsibility, to speak up, to lead, and to passionately share my ideas and vision.
I grew up in a modest neighbourhood in Bogotá, Colombia, where opportunities were limited but the arts opened a window to the world. My mother enrolled me and my siblings in a local youth theatre and dance group, not as a luxury but as a lifeline. That space gave me values I still carry: boldness, collaboration, and play.
I trained as an actor in Bogotá. Then, encouraged by friends, I moved to the UK. I arrived without English, worked all kinds of jobs, and slowly found my way into the arts, studying physical theatre, teaching dance, performing, facilitating, and eventually directing.
Immersive theatre played a big part in that journey. I spent over a decade with Secret Cinema, moving from performer to Associate Creative Director and helping shape more than twenty productions. I also collaborated with companies like AVR, Les Enfants Terribles, and Immersive Octopus.
In 2023, I was Creative Director for Rumble in the Jungle Rematch, a bold reimagining of one of boxing’s most iconic events. The show won the WXO Excellence in Art Award and helped define my voice in the field. Most recently, I directed Terminal 1 at Glastonbury Festival, a politically charged immersive performance about migration and our shared humanity.
Alongside this, I’ve had the joy of continuing to evolve as an actor. I’ve worked with Gecko Theatre for the past seven years, touring internationally, developing new work, and deepening my love for ensemble-led theatre. I also played the lead antagonist in PRIMATE, a new horror film for Paramount Studios.
During the pandemic, I discovered filmmaking. I threw myself into it, studying, experimenting, and slowly building my own visual language. That led me to launch Umba Arts with my siblings, connecting Colombia and the UK through stories that celebrate diversity, amplify marginalised voices, and foster human connection.
And I’ve stayed rooted in my beginnings. Art changed my life, and I know how deeply it can change others. That’s why I co-founded LYT, the Latinx Youth Theatre in London, a platform that supports young Latin American creatives to shape their own narratives.
There’s plenty more to tell and plenty more to do, but I hope this gives you a sense of my journey. I’m excited for what’s next, for every opportunity to tell powerful stories, build community, and create meaningful impact. Let’s do it together.