How we work
We are committed to developing and supporting the live performance sector to make it fairer, more equal and inclusive.
We work to build a more sustainable ecology where artists and freelance creatives can establish and sustain independent careers, whatever their background.
We do this by connecting people, sharing knowledge and resources, brokering relationships and advocating for best practice through a responsive, seasonal programme of offers.
Having lost our core funding from April 2023 we are now in a period of transition whilst we scope out a new business model for the organisation.
Meet the team
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Aisha Ali Artist Associate
Aisha’s role is currently paused whilst we await funding news – read more here.
Aisha is a Non Binary, Queer, South Asian, Vocal Artist, Improviser, Composer, Inclusion and Cultural Producer, Workshop Facilitator and Artistic Director of Kiota: A Collective of BPOC (Black and People Of Colour) Creatives in Bristol. They are trained in the Arts of Fooling and Vocal Improv and primarily work with the Voice. Their compositions contain vocal harmonies, interesting beats and layers of foley instruments. They are passionate about where Art meets Activism and is particularly involved in Anti-racist work. They teach at The Bristol Improv Theatre and manage The Wardrobe Theatre as well as being on the Board of Trustees for Ad Infinitum.
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Caroline Williams Artist Associate
Caroline’s ongoing practice is to explore how the dramaturgy of reality can activate conventional theatrical forms. With a background in social and environmental activism, her work is often in dialogue with current political issues, for example the semantics of screens in relation to the war in Syria (Now Is the Time to Say Nothing, extensive touring 2018/19 produced by MAYK), multiple deaths in police custody in East London (You Do Not Have To Say Anything, The Yard Theatre) or the relationship between loneliness and technology (Can You Hear Me Now –British Council/ MAYK). Caroline’s work has ranged from a flash mob opera in the British Museum (Millions of Years, ENO) to a one-on-one installation-performance inside a cardboard box performed by migrants (Make Yourself At Home, Nuit Blanche Brussels).
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Ella Best Administrator
I joined Theatre Bristol in 2018 as a newbie to the arts world. I support the team in all things admin, comms and events, and am often the first person artists get in touch with. I particularly enjoy producing Testing Ground, our biannual dance scratch night.
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Emily Williams CEO
My practice as a Producer is driven by a desire to build a more open, generous and connected sector placing care and transparency at the heart of my leadership. As CEO, I lead and support the team, drive the creative and strategic visioning along with the development of partnerships, fundraising and business planning.
I work 3 days a week for Theatre Bristol.
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Isabelle Drummond General Manager
I joined Theatre Bristol in November 2022 as General Manager and am responsible for ensuring the smooth running of the organisation’s operations. I have previously worked at Michael Clark Company, Sadler’s Wells Producing & Touring, Richard Alston Dance Company and National Dance Company Wales.
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Saikat Ahamed Artist Associate
Saikat’s role is currently paused whilst we await funding news – read more here.
Saikat is one of our Artist Associates offering bespoke 1:1 support to artists and creative freelancers as well as contributing to the creative direction of Theatre Bristol.
Saikat is a Bristol based British Bangladeshi writer and actor and theatre maker. As an actor, he has worked in all parts of the industry over the last twenty years; roles include Tinkerbell in Peter Pan at Bristol Old Vic and then The National Theatre, Vince Arya in Monday Monday for ITV and Mr Chadley in Pennyworth for Epixand.
As a writer, his work includes three autobiographical solo shows, The Tiger and the Moustache, Strictly Balti and In Search of Goldoni, a Christmas family show for Travelling Light Theatre Company, Three Kings, and most recently a play called Book Club which deals with conversations around race. He has experience of both producing his own work and also working to a commission for theatre companies.
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Sukina Noor Artist Associate
Sukina’s role is currently paused whilst we await funding news – read more here.
Sukina is a Poet, Spoken-Word artist, Playwright, Workshop Facilitator and Event Organiser and co-founder of Muslim female Hip Hop duo, Poetic Pilgrimage. Sukina has facilitated creative writing workshops across the world, empowering communities to use the written word as a tool for dialogue and as a means for accessing their authentic voice.
Sukina is the lead for our Homecoming Project.
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Tamera Heron Digital Storyteller
Tamera’s role is currently paused whilst we await funding news – read more here.
Tamera Heron is a freelance writer and digital storyteller, working with several businesses and artists centred around theatre, music and art. Her work predominantly focuses around the global majority community, aiding them to authentically tell their stories. Tamera studied Fashion, Media and Marking at the University of Winchester, graduating with a 1st class honours. From there she continued to review both Fashion and Theatre. Tamera has written for several publications such as Gal-dem, Black Ballad, The Blues Project and more. Previously she is was the Art and Fashion editor for Onyx magazine, a black-owned indie publication founded by the students of Oxford University. Tamera also works as a creative consultant for Arts & Culture festivals such as Bloomsbury Festival, London, helping curate a variety of themed events for the local community. She is currently working on a project she founded titled ‘Cold Islanders’, a platform centred around showcasing and connecting creatives of Caribbean descent in the UK.
Our board members
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BIO
Martha King is a creative producer based in Bristol. She is Creative Programme manager at Knowle West Media Centre and co-director of Control Shift. Martha believes art and creative methodologies can enable positive social and political change and is committed to shaping collaborative frameworks through which to achieve this. Over the last 15 years, as a producer she has supported artists to develop participatory residencies, performances, exhibitions and digital works in both community, public realm, arts & cultural venue contexts. As we well as a producer Martha is facilitator, specialising in co-design and design thinking processes. Her background in performance making (MA ‘Performance Design and Practice’, Central Saint Martins and BA Drama, Exeter University) has given her a grounding in collaborative processes and embodied practices. She has a UCL accredited service design qualification and is a Clore alumni from the 2016 Emerging Leaders residential. Martha joined the Theatre Bristol board in January 2023.
Martha King Board Member
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BIO
Whilst studying for an Accounting Technician qualification, Neal worked at the University of Exeter in various roles in both Research and Management Accounting. Following this, he commenced studying for a Chartered Management Accountant qualification before joining the Northcott Theatre as Finance Manager. During his time at Northcott Theatre, Neal worked on a major capital project following a public campaign to keep the theatre open. He was appointed Director of Finance and Administration and continued to study for his Chartered Management Accountant qualification. At this time he was a Trustee for the Bike Shed Theatre in Exeter. After 6 years, Neal took the position of Company Accountant and Research & Knowledge Transfer Finance Manager at the University of Exeter. Within this role he had responsibility for the financial operations of the University's subsidiary group, intellectual property management, royalty agreements, two key University investments totalling £18m and the Science Park Company. In early 2014 he took on the role of Head of Finance for the College of Life and Environmental Sciences at the University of Exeter. This newly established role had responsibility for the day-to-day and strategic financial operations of a £100m turnover business with over 700 staff and 4,000 students across three campuses. After one year, he became the Deputy Director of College Operations to support the existing Director with specific strategic projects. Two years later he was appointed permanently to the role of Director of College Operations. This role was part of the University Senior Leadership team and held responsibility for the strategic planning of the college alongside the operational delivery. In January 2023, Neal was appointed the Director of Finance and Resources at Colyton Grammar School. The role is wide-ranging, holding responsibility for the financial management and operation of the school as well as responsibility for the physical estate, IT, HR, data protection, health & safety, fundraising and core administrative functions. Neal joined the Theatre Bristol board in January 2023
Neal Whitfield Board member
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SEE THE FULL BOARD
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BIO
Tom is currently Programme Manager at Culture Weston. Tom joined the Theatre Bristol board in January 2023.
Tom Newman Board member
HOW OUR BOARD WORKS
Our Board of Directors are currently made up of 3 individuals working across the Arts and Culture Sector, and 1 within the Education sector. All our Directors care deeply about the work we do and ensuring that it is relevant and ambitious, they support the team and measure risk, capacity and resource against our programme of work.
Our Board is led by Chair Chinonyerem Odimba who works closely with our CEO throughout the year.
We hold quarterly Board meetings of around 2 hours and 2 Board away days per year that allow us the time and space to delve deeper into a particular area of work. These are usually facilitated by an Artist or Producer.
We hold an Annual General Meeting where we reflect on the past year and our impact, elect the Committee for the next year and if necessary make any changes to our constitution.
Our Board provides ongoing support throughout the year to the team, and where needed provide advice and critical feedback on specific areas of the organisation relating to their individual skills and experience.
We are in the process of reviewing the skills and knowledge as well as lived experiences on our Board and will be launching a recruitment campaign in the not too distant future.
