our mission
milkweed productions ltd. is a nonprofit theatrical production company dedicated to supporting emerging artists and producing work that fosters connection, empathy, and community.
Founded in London by American actors & theatre makers Eileen MacDonald and Cameron Quinn Chavers, who met while studying at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (LAMDA), milkweed was born from a simple belief: stories have the power to bring people together when the world seems determined to pull them apart.
Our name comes from the milkweed plant, a species often misunderstood. Frequently labeled invasive or toxic, milkweed is in fact an essential part of its ecosystem. Monarch butterflies, who make one of the greatest pilgrimages seen in nature, cannot survive without it; their larvae rely exclusively on milkweed as a food source. Far from being a nuisance, it is a vital contributor to life, transformation, and migration.
As expatriate artists living and working abroad, we saw ourselves reflected in that story. Like milkweed, artists, immigrants, outsiders, and unconventional voices are often misunderstood or overlooked. Yet these voices are frequently the ones that sustain culture, inspire empathy, and help communities evolve.
At milkweed productions, we embrace stories that challenge assumptions, celebrate transformation, and reveal our interconnectedness. We are particularly interested in work that bridges cultures, generations, and experiences while remaining rooted in the communities where it is created.
Our guiding principle is simple: create locally, connect globally.
Through theatre, education, and community partnerships, we strive to support the next generation of artists while creating meaningful experiences for audiences. Whether presenting contemporary works, reimagining classics, or developing new projects, we seek stories that invite conversation, compassion, and change.
Like the monarch butterfly and the milkweed plant, we believe that thriving depends upon connection. The stories we tell remind us that none of us exists alone.
milkweed productions: cultivating stories that transform.
our people
meet the faces behind milkweed
Eileen MacDonald is an actor, director, and theatre maker based in London, UK. After growing up in Seattle, WA, Eileen moved to California to pursue her BFA in Theatre Performance at Chapman University. Upon finishing her BFA, Eileen moved to London to complete her Masters in Classical Acting for the Professional Theatre at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art. She is a co-director and founder of Milkweed Productions Ltd.
Cameron Quinn Chavers is an actor and theatre maker based in London, UK. She is a native New Yorker who moved to London to complete her Masters in Classical Acting for the Professional Theatre at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art. She is a co-director and founder of Milkweed Productions Ltd. Recent credits include Melinda Colbert on Nutopia’s The White House (TV). (Rep: Sharon Henry Management)
Our People
Meet the faces behind milkweed
Eileen MacDonald is an actor, director, and theatre maker based in London, UK. After growing up in Seattle, WA, Eileen moved to California to pursue her BFA in Theatre Performance at Chapman University. Upon finishing her BFA, Eileen moved to London to complete her Masters in Classical Acting for the Professional Theatre at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art. She is a co-director and founder of Milkweed Productions Ltd.
Cameron Quinn Chavers is an actor and theatre maker based in London, UK. She is a native New Yorker who moved to London to complete her Masters in Classical Acting for the Professional Theatre at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art. She is a co-director and founder of Milkweed Productions Ltd. Recent credits include Melinda Colbert on Nutopia’s The White House (TV). (Rep: Sharon Henry Management)
collaborators
meet our current artists in development
Abigail Devine
Abigail Devine is an actor, writer, and New Jersey Native based in London, UK. She is currently in the process of developing her debut play revolution.