Conference 18: Contributors
Samira Ahmed, Journalist, Broadcaster and Theatres Trust Ambassador
Journalist, broadcaster and documentary maker Samira Ahmed presents Front Row on Radio 4 and Newswatch on BBC1. She is a visiting professor of journalism at Kingston University.
Samira is became one of the Theatres Trust's Ambassadors in June.
Richard Baldwin, Theatres Trust Trustee / Head of Development, Derwent London
Richard is a chartered quantity surveyor by background and has over 40 years’ experience in the UK and Global construction market including at Davis Langdon where he was responsible for the successful delivery of numerous high profile projects. Richard is now Head of Development at Derwent London, one of London’s most innovative office specialist property regenerators and investors with an actively managed portfolio of 6 million sq. ft. Richard is a fellow of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors and the Royal Society of Arts. He is currently engaged by the Royal Academy of Arts and the Geffrye Museum as a special advisor on their new building programmes. Richard Baldwin became a Trustee on 1 January 2016.
Gavin Barlow, CEO & Artistic Director, The Albany, Deptford
Gavin has been Chief Executive and Artistic Director of the Albany for the last fifteen years, overseeing its transformation into a significant London arts centre and successful social enterprise. Since 2012 the Albany has also managed two award-winning new cultural buildings - the Deptford Lounge and Canada Water Theatre. Gavin is Co-Chair/founder of the Future Arts Centres network, with a membership of more than 100 arts centres across the UK. He was formerly Executive Director at Contact Theatre Manchester, Executive Producer of ATC, and founder Director of the Queer Up North Festival, Europe’s leading LGBT+ arts festival in the 1990s.
Julien Boast, CEO & Creative Director, Hall for Cornwall
Currently Director of the independent theatre Hall for Cornwall, Julien has twenty years of senior management experience in both the private and public sector. He trained at The Bristol Old Vic Theatre School with a career in majoring regional theatre and in London in the West End. Prior to joining HFC, Julien spent ten years as part of The Ambassador Theatre Group management team – working as Chief Executive at the company’s award winning south east venues Theatre Royal Brighton and Churchill Theatre Bromley.
Currently has raised £18 million for the redevelopment of Hall For Cornwall, Julien is committed in utilising theatre as a force for cultural regeneration, through creating opportunities for creative and artists to learn and practice through collaborations and exciting new digital means. As an Arts Council England Regional Council member for the South West and South East, and other industry reference groups for future funding strategies, Julien has vast experience of collaborating with funding bodies, sponsors and the broader community and mentoring artists and theatre companies.
Paul Bristow, Director, Strategic Partnerships, Arts Council England
Paul Bristow has been Director, Strategic Partnerships at Arts Council England since 2012. He leads the Arts Council’s policy on place, local government, economic growth, and rural and urban agendas. He has led the delivery of key Arts Council investment programmes. Prior to joining the Arts Council, he was Head of Policy at the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council (MLA). His early career was spent in local government at the London boroughs of Bexley and Wandsworth. He has a masters degree in Public Policy from the University of London and is a Fellow of the RSA.
Annika Brown, Building Project Manager, Ovalhouse
Prince 2 certified Annika Brown is Buildings Project Manager at Ovalhouse. A graduate of ITC’s fast track programme, Annika has spent 11 years at Ovelhouse raising to Acting General Manager and now in her current role coordinating the Ovalhouse Capital Project Team overseeing the development of a new £13m fully accessible, two theatre, seven rehearsal studios venue in Brixton in 2020. Working to a complex and diverse stakeholder partnership with Lambeth Council, Arts Council England, Capita, Galliford Try and architects Foster Wilson. Managing the project in pre-construction across RIBA stages 0-4 and into construction, due to commence in October 2018.
David Brownlee, International Strategy Director, TRG Arts
David Brownlee is TRG Arts’ International Strategy Director. TRG Arts is an international consulting firm that teaches arts marketers, fundraisers, and executive leaders how to grow sustainable revenue and patronage.
Previously he was co-Director of BON Culture, Executive Director of UK Theatre, Chief Executive of Audiences UK, national Director of Public Engagement and Strategic Partnerships for Arts Council England and Head of Arts & Entertainment for the London Borough of Lewisham. David’s early career was in arts marketing and fundraising for organisations including London’s Royal Court Theatre, Greenwich + Docklands International Festival and the Ambassador Theatre Group.
Laura Case, Executive Director and Joint Chief Executive, Theatre Hullabaloo
Laura Case is Executive Director and joint Chief Executive of Theatre Hullabaloo, one of the UK’s leading theatre companies making work for children and young people. She has recently led on the development and delivery of The Hullabaloo, a new specially designed venue for children and young people in Darlington, the only one of its kind North of London. Laura joined the company in 2015 to lead on the capital and strategic development of the organisation. She has worked in the arts as a senior manager for over 15 years.
Liz Dart, Head of Culture and Community Development, Lewisham Council
Liz is Head of Culture and Community Development for Lewisham Council. Her role encompasses libraries, adult learning, grant aid, community engagement, community premises, leisure, arts, sports and events. Liz works closely with the independent venues in the borough as well as having responsibility for the direct management of the Grade II listed Broadway Theatre, Catford. Liz has worked in local government for over twenty years and prior to that she worked for a number of small scale arts organisations and for Arts Council England.
Paddy Dillon, Theatres Trust Trustee / Paddy Dillon Architect
Paddy Dillon is noted as a theatre architect and conservationist, and as a writer and broadcaster. He led Haworth Tompkins’s architectural team for the award-winning regeneration of the National Theatre, and before that headed the regeneration of Snape Maltings. He was a director at Allies and Morrison Architects, leading projects for the Roundhouse and RADA, and is now an independent architect and consultant. He sits on the casework committee of the Twentieth Century Society, and the editorial board of ITEAC. Paddy Dillon became a Trustee on 1 January 2016.
Paul Dobson, Director, Stockton-On-Tees Council
Paul is the Project Director in Stockton-on-Tees, supporting the restoration of the Globe Theatre. Stockton Borough Council is leading this major investment, supported by The Heritage Lottery Fund and Ambassador Theatre Group as venue operator. The restored venue will have a capacity of 3000+ responding to a substantial gap in the market for a large-scale music venue, between Leeds and Newcastle. Paul was the Authorities Corporate Director a position from 2009 to 2017. Paul has extensive corporate management and board experience, including holding the post of Corporate/Executive Director in three different local authorities during a career in local government spanning 36 years.
Adam Durnin, Theatre Manager, Leicester Haymarket Theatre
Adam has previously worked as Theatre Manager at The Albany Theatre in Coventry and then as Theatre & Heritage Manager at The Y Theatre in Leicester. Here he led the rebranding of the theatre to take in to account its status as the oldest surviving theatre in Leicester and started the process of refurbishing the theatre to restore its architectural features and update its technical facilities. With the refurbishment of The Haymarket Theatre, Adam was approached to take on the position of Theatre Manager, joining in June 2018 to lead the programming and put the theatre back on the local and national stage.
Ruth Eastwood, Theatres Trust Trustee / CEO Blackpool Grand Theatre
Ruth Eastwood is currently CEO of the Grade II* listed Matcham Grand Theatre in Blackpool. She has worked in touring, presenting and producing theatres from Hull Truck to the Royal National Theatre. She has managed large scale capital developments whilst Chief Executive of Leicester Theatre Trust (2006-2009) and Poole Arts Trust (1997-2006). Ruth Eastwood became a Trustee on 7 February 2011.
Helen Grassly, Consultant, Burrell Foley Fischer
Helen Grassly is a Consultant at Burrell Foley Fischer LLP. Her projects include the Almeida, London Theatre of the Year at The Stage Awards 2018, Harbour Lights, the Regional Film Theatre in Southampton, and the Depot Community Cinema and Arts Centre in Lewes. She is currently Project Architect for the remodelling of the Hall for Cornwall, including a new 1,200-seat auditorium within the Grade II* listed building. She has a particular passion for the detailed making of buildings and places, creating community amenities performing functions far beyond the theatrical experience.
Brian Harris, Chair, Streatham Space Project
Brian Harris set up and ran Battersea Arts Centre in the 1970s and was then Assistant Housing the Arts Officer (Arts Council of Great Britain) and Assistant Director Greater London Arts. Since 1984 he has been a freelance Arts Development Consultant with a particular interest in the upgrading of or creation of arts buildings in all art forms. His major projects include: Hackney Empire; Mick Jagger Centre, Dartford; Chequer Mead Theatre and Arts Centre, East Grinstead. His current projects include Capitol Theatre, Horsham and TCAT new theatre, Tiverton, Devon. Brian is Chair of Streatham Arts Space, Chair of ArtCan and board member of Oily Cart Children’s Theatre.
Sam Hodges, Director, Nuffield Southampton Theatres
Sam Hodges in Director and CEO of Nuffield Southampton Theatres (NST). His productions for NST include The Shadow Factory, Dedication – Shakespeare and Southampton, and The Glass Menagerie. Previously he founded the High Tide Festival Theatre in 2007 and was the Artistic Director for five years during which he produced over 25 new plays, co-producing with the National Theatre, The Old Vic and the Bush Theatre amongst others. Between 2012 and 2014, he ran the Criterion Theatre in London’s West End, for whom he curated a late-night programme and one-off summer season of new work to celebrate the London Olympics.
Dave Hughes, Design Director, MDR Associates
Dave is Design Director at MDR Associates , an architectural practice based in London Bridge. He was the architect for London Square, the developer for Streatham Space Project and was heavily involved in the Section 106 operator selection process and subsequent detailed design of Streatham theatre. Dave is currently developing designs for Reading Rep Theatre; providing a permanent 150 seat theatre. Previously he led the award winning David Hughes Architects’ design for Park Theatre and The Old Library Arts Centre, Acton.
Stella Kanu, Executive Producer, Ovalhouse
Stella Kanu is currently Executive Producer at Ovalhouse in London, a NPO venue with a £1.4m turnover. Ovalhouse supports 300+ theatre makers each year – investing, co-producing, and presenting 40 productions, with work touring nationally and internationally with the Ovalhouse brand and through a learning programme reaches more than 2,500 young people locally. Previously CEO at Soundwave, the North’s leading youth music education charity, with more than 25 years working across arts, regeneration, capital projects and the outdoor festival sector. Since 2014 Stella has been a mentor on Extend Leadership Programme (Engage) and was awarded Cultural Leadership Powerbrokers International fellowship (PILP) in 2008.
Judith Kilvington, Executive Director, Citizens Theatre, Glasgow
Judith is Executive Director/Joint CEO of Citizens Theatre. She is also Project Director for the Redevelopment Project. Prior to moving to Glasgow in July 2013, she worked at London-based touring companies, Graeae and Actors Touring Company. She was Joint CEO/Executive Director of Graeae, the country’s leading disabled-led theatre company, where she oversaw the creation of Graeae’s first permanent home, the award-winning Bradbury Studios in East London. From 1992 to 2001 Judith worked in academic administration at Goldsmiths and Imperial College. She also carried out research in East German Women Writers and European prostitution policies.
Emma King, Capital Director, The Factory, Manchester
Emma qualified as an architect in 1995, working in both the public and private sectors including ten years with innovative developer Urban Splash. She made the move from designer to client whilst working for Arts Council England. During her time at ACE, she was responsible for working with Lottery projects to ensure quality of design, construction and delivery before moving on to manage the Arts Council’s own estate, commissioning architects to create award winning environments, re-housing the Arts Council Collection and acting as the landlord for the South Bank Centre and the Royal National Theatre. Since leaving ACE, Emma has acted as client advisor on varied projects including leading the refurbishment of Liverpool Philharmonic Hall from inception through to completion. Emma maintains a passion for quality design solutions and all of her projects, either as client or architect, have won an RIBA award. She joined The Factory project in 2016.
Chris Knight, Technical Director, Leicester Haymarket Theatre
Chris has over 20 years’ experience working and managing a wide array of production, live events, concerts and conferences. In 2010 Chris joined Hawthorn Theatrical as a project/ production manager, working on events including, The Royal Variety performance and the Olympic Flame Relay. Chris's project management role also included the installation of equipment and services to clients, ranging from multi-use venues to theme parks. As Technical Director at Leicester Haymarket Theatre, Chris was the technical driving force behind the vision to reopen the Haymarket and implement new technologies throughout the building.
John McGrath, CEO & A
rtistic Director, Manchester International Festival / The Factory
His first Festival in 2017 featured world premieres from leading international artists; a new digital direction for MIF; a series of participatory commissions in public spaces, and My Festival a year-round programme forging closer connections with Manchester communities.
John was previously Artistic Director of National Theatre Wales, where he achieved a reputation for large-scale site-specific work, digital innovation and extraordinary community involvement. As CEO of MIF John will also be responsible for The Factory, a flagship cultural space for the creation of ambitious new work, opening in 2020.
Andy McKeane, Creative Director, Streatham Space Project
Andy trained as an actor at Bristol Old Vic Theatre School, and appeared at The Crucible Sheffield, Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre and at the Noel Coward Theatre in London’s West End. Alongside his a, he collaborated on Battersea Arts Centre’s recent refurbishment while working as their facilities manager, and most recently has been leading a team of artists in setting up Streatham Space Project, a brand new purpose-built theatre, music and comedy venue in South West London.
Cameron Mackintosh, theatre owner and producer
For over 50 years, Cameron has been producing more musicals than anyone else in history, including the three longest-running musicals of all time, “Les Misérables”, “The Phantom of the Opera” and “Cats”, which are still running extraordinarily successfully across the world. Joining this list of legendary titles, his co-production with Disney of “Mary Poppins” continues to disperse her magic globally. “Miss Saigon” is now on a hugely successful national tour of the UK. Cameron also enjoys producing new versions of such classics as “Oliver!”, “My Fair Lady”, “Oklahoma!”, “Carousel”, the longest-running production ever of Stephen Sondheim's legendary “Follies” and, most recently, the reinvented “Half a Sixpence” which he presented in the West End to great acclaim. Cameron, with Working Title and Universal, produced the multi award-winning film version of “Les Miserables”.
He owns eight historic theatres in London's West End, all of which have undergone spectacular refurbishment. By far the most ambitious transformation has been Matcham's masterpiece, the Victoria Palace Theatre, which has been rebuilt, expanded and visually re-imagined and is currently home to the Olivier and Tony Award winning American musical, “Hamilton”, which Cameron is co-producing with the original American producers.
He is also the co-owner of Music Theatre International, the world’s largest library of secondary rights of many of the greatest musicals every written. Cameron was knighted in the 1996 New Year honours for his services to British theatre and he is the first British producer to be elected to Broadway's Theater Hall of Fame.
Lord Andew Mawson, Director, Andrew Mawson Partnerships
Lord Andrew Mawson is a social entrepreneur. He was appointed Chairman of Well North in 2015, a Public Health England initiative working with the public, businesses, and voluntary sectors to improve the health of people living in some of the most deprived communities.
Andrew was made a life Peer in 2007 in recognition of the social impact of his work and he now sits as an independent crossbench Peer in the House of Lords. For Andrew, nothing is impossible. His favourite saying is, “live dangerously or do not live at all
G
illian Miller, Chief Executive, Liverpool’s Royal Court Theatre
Gillian Miller has worked as a business development manager in the arts and creative sector in Liverpool for over 30 years.
In the last 12 years her primary focus has been the renovation of Liverpool’s Royal Court Theatre. She set up a charitable trust to safeguard the building and has driven the £7.2m renovation of the theatre and the £1.2m purchase and renovation of a former pub adjacent to the theatre.
Liverpool’s Royal Court now has a secure future with a successful business model, modern facilities and a loyal audience that continues to grow.
Paul Monaghan, Director, BA Dip Arch DLitt RIBA ARB, Director and Co-Founder, Allford Hall Monaghan Morris
Paul’s projects at all scales have been recognised as exemplars of outstanding design and collaborative creativity, many of them winning national and international awards and media and public acclaim.
His current and recent key projects include Television Centre, New Scotland Yard, and Liverpool’s Royal Court Theatre; he also led AHMM’s work on the RIBA Stirling Prize-winning Burntwood School.
Paul is a visiting professor at the Bartlett and Sheffield schools of architecture; he is a member of the CABE National Design Review Panel and a RIBA Client Design Advisor. A past chair of the Young Architect of the Year awards and the RIBA awards panel, he was a judge for the RIBA Stirling Prize in 2016.
Jon Morgan, Director, Theatres Trust
Jon is responsible for leading the work of the Trust, and the development and delivery of the Trust's strategy. With a wealth of experience across the theatre and arts industry, Jon joined us from the Federation of Scottish Theatre (FST) where he had been Director since 2008. Jon's previous roles include Director of Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Executive Producer of Contact Theatre, Manchester and General Manager of TAG, Glasgow with earlier periods at Royal Conservatoire Scotland and Orchard Theatre, Kent. Jon joined the Trust in January 2017.
James Nelmes, Associate Director, Bennetts Associates
James is an Associate Director at leading architecture practice, Bennetts Associates. He is currently leading the transformation of Glasgow’s cherished Citizens Theatre, which is deeply rooted in the Gorbals community. The project transforms front of house spaces to meet the requirements of 21st Century audiences. The hugely atmospheric Victorian auditorium is being improved and unrestricted access to historic timber stage machinery is being provided for the first time.
Rachael Roe, Senior Policy Officer, Culture & Creative Industries, Greater London Authority
Rachael Roe is a Senior Policy Officer in the Culture and Creative Industries unit at the GLA. With a passion for placemaking, planning and data, she delivers a range of research and programmes which aim to secure and expand London’s cultural places and spaces. Rachael has spent 15 years developing and delivering cultural policy across the City as well as in Gloucestershire. Her previous role at Southwark Council saw her leading the boroughs Cultural Strategy and developing initiatives to secure and support cultural premises.
Julian Russell, CEO, HQ Theatres and Hospitality
Julian is CEO for HQ Theatres and Hospitality, the second largest commercial operator or theatres in the UK. Before joining HQT&H in 2011 Julian was owner/operator of a successful restaurant business and has spent all his career in leisure, entertainment and customer service industries. Passionate about investing in talent, Julian describes HQT&H as a people business serving up great entertainment and hospitality. Julian is extremely positive about the future of regional theatre and is committed to working with the industry as well as adopting best practice of best in class other industries to ensure outstanding customer experiences.
Liz Smith, Business Strategy Director, Ambassadors Theatre Group
As Business Strategy Director, Liz heads up ATG’s Business Development team. This involves assessing both national and international venue and acquisition opportunities, liaising closely with local authorities, negotiation of key commercial and legal terms, and leading the financial, property and commercial diligence. Liz also plays a key role in the integration of new venues and acquisitions into ATG once deals are agreed. Liz joined ATG in May 2013 from Deloitte Corporate Finance where she spent 15 years specialising in mergers and acquisitions in the leisure sector.
Sir Peter Soulsby, City Mayor of Leicester
Peter Soulsby became Leicester’s first directly elected City Mayor in May 2011 and has since been re-elected. He was elected to Leicester City Council in 1973, becoming Leader of the Council eight years later – a position he held almost continuously for the next 17 years. During this time he oversaw the council’s transition from district council to a unitary authority. He also spearheaded Leicester’s City Challenge programme, bringing over £400m of jobs and regeneration to Leicester – including the land for the King Power Stadium and the development of the National Space Centre. He was knighted in 1999 for services to the City of Leicester.
Anna Stapleton, Theatres Trust Trustee / Freelance Arts Manager
Anna Stapleton is a Freelance Arts Manager, with over forty years’ experience of working in the arts. Previous posts include Administrative Director at the Citizens Theatre, Glasgow; Drama & Dance Director at the Scottish Arts Council; and Drama Director at the Arts Council of England. She has also worked with a range of producing theatres in Scotland and England. Anna Stapleton became a Trustee on 12 May 2014.
Emma Stenning, Chief Executive, Bristol Old Vic
Emma is Chief Executive of Bristol Old Vic, leading the organisation in partnership with Artistic Director Tom Morris. Together they have delivered the long awaited refurbishment of the Georgian theatre and continue to plan for the full development of the front of house spaces, whilst also working to revitalise the organisation’s creative life and public profile; locally, nationally and internationally.
Emma is chair of The Bike Shed Theatre, Deputy Chair of Shakespeare’s Globe and trustee of Dartington Hall and Cheek by Jowl. Past roles include Head of Producing for 2009 Manchester International Festival, Head of Theatre for ACE and Executive Director for BAC.
Tom Stickland, Theatres Adviser, Theatres Trust
Tom provides advice around the effective operation of theatres, governance and the delivery of capital projects to operators, local authorities and community groups. Tom has a background in commercial and subsidised theatre including time as Business Manager for commercial operator HQ Theatres & Hospitality and as national administrator for the Cultural Olympiad at Arts Council England.
Jack Tilbury, Plann
Jack spent the first ten years of his career working as a freelance Production Manager in the theatre and event industries. After working for Imagination on the construction of the Millennium Dome and a short period at Theatre Projects Consultants, Jack co-founded Charcoalblue in 2004.
After eight years at Charcoalblue, which included working on the Young Vic, The Roundhouse, The Marlowe in Canterbury and the Curve in Leicester, Jack left to set up Plann in 2012. Plann is a multi-disciplinary consultancy offering bespoke Project Director and Project Management services to theatre clients running capital projects. Jack was the Project Director for the Bridge Theatre, the Bush Theatre and Bristol Old Vic and is currently assisting Sadler’s Wells, The Old Vic and Punchdrunk as well as clients in Northern Ireland, Dublin, New York and China. Jack is a Trustee of Theatre503 and a Director of producing company Birdsong Productions.
Sebastian Warrack, Executive Director, Wiltshire Creative
Sebastian originally trained as an actor and was appointed as Executive Director of Salisbury Playhouse in 2012. He became Executive Director of Wiltshire Creative in 2018, following the merger of Salisbury Playhouse, Salisbury Arts Centre and Salisbury International Arts Festival. Previous to Salisbury Playhouse, he was the Executive Producer of Told by an Idiot, a national touring company, which regularly co-produced with companies such as the Barbican, the RSC, Theatre Royal Plymouth and the Young Vic. Prior to this, he worked at Arts Council England in both the London and South East offices, looking after a portfolio of clients, which included The Gate Theatre, The New Wolsey Theatre, London International Mime Festival, Mercury Theatre Colchester, Watford Palace Theatre and Oily Cart.
Lynda Winstanley, Director, Darlington Hippodrome
Lynda Winstanley is the Director of Darlington Hippodrome and also manages The Hullabaloo, a new home for Theatre Hullabaloo and a centre of excellence for young people’s theatre, which opened in 2017 adjacent to the Hippodrome. She has recently led on a £13.7m restoration of the Edwardian Hippodrome. Lynda is a director of the Touring Consortium Theatre Company which will be touring a new production of Bram Stoker’s Dracula around the UK in autumn 2018 and she is also a board member of Creative Darlington.