meet the team

Grants Liasion

Louise is the first line of contact that grantees will have with our charity, whether making enquires or submitting an application. She vets all applications against our conditions and forwards that information to our Independent Reviewer. Louise started working in Early Years education over 25 years ago, supervising and caring for children. Louise was an Atelierista (yes, we had to look it up as well), a person who guides children in creating art. Louise’s love of theatre started with a trip to Annie when she was five and she can still belt out ‘The Sun Will Come Out Tomorrow’.

Grants and Outreach Coordinator

Abbey White has a background spanning theatre, education, and the arts. She has led audience development and marketing campaigns for productions including Wicked, developed educational resources for schools, and managed theatre partnerships with charities. She volunteers for Spread a Smile where she goes into hospitals and sings for children.

Theatre Development US

Judy liaises with regional theatres across the US. Judy has been active in cultural activities for many years, starting with Leonard Bernstein’s Young People’s concerts. She has a long-standing interest in social justice issues. She is actively involved with Miami’s Funding Arts Network and is a keen walker.

Theatre Development US

Ann reaches out to US regional theatres to promote theatre works! With a background in social work, she has firsthand experience improving the lives of children from underserved communities. She believes theatre can be both eye-opening and inspiring, offering new possibilities. Ann has taught creative writing in a women's prison and is active in two book clubs and a French conversation group.

Education Coordinator

Lucy is an experienced drama educator and consultant, bringing over twenty years of dedication to the field of drama education. After studying Drama at Manchester University, Lucy has taught across diverse settings, from rural schools in the Midlands to urban academies in London. In 2021, she founded We Teach Drama, a resource and professional development hub for drama teachers worldwide. Her innovative workbook Think Like a Lighting Designer won the 2023 ‘Outstanding Drama Education Resource’ award at the Music & Drama Education Awards.

Development (Foundations)

Gabriel is Head of Development, where she leads our fundraising efforts with a focus on researching opportunities and securing support from trusts, foundations, and corporate partners. She is responsible for crafting grant applications and ensuring that proposals reflect both the ambition and practical impact of our work. Gabriel also leads our Communications work, helping to shape newsletters and public updates that keep our community informed and inspired.

Development (Corporates)

Jonathan is an experienced board level executive having worked in IT, Telecommunications and Banking in UK, US and Australasia. Appointments included, main board member of FTSE 100 Alliance & Leicester plc, Founder and President of Geo Networks and Managing Director of COLT Telecommunications. He is now an investor, putting his managerial experience to use in helping young fast growth companies. Following in his fathers’ footsteps Jonathan takes great delight in identifying talent from underprivileged backgrounds and providing development opportunities.

Research and Strategy

Rachel has nearly 30 years' experience as a research analyst for a number of UK government departments. Most recently she has led research on children and families' health, providing evidence for national policymakers in England. She believes all children should have access to opportunities which will help them lead fulfilling lives. 

Independent Examiner

After a 39 year career with PwC, the last 26 as partner, Gareth, a keen musician, involved himself in arts-based charities. He served on the board of the renowned Academy of St Martin in the Fields for eight years, and on the board of Create, a charity that helps disadvantaged teenagers build confidence through exposure to the arts for five years.

Development Assistant

Helen has held various public-facing roles including as an audit clerk in banking and as a lead receptionist in a GP surgery. She was part of the area admin team for Covid vaccination. In the evening, Helen and her husband can be found at regional theatre productions across the county. 

Theatre Relationships

Briony’s first memory of seeing a show was when, at the age of four, she was taken to the Little Angel Theatre in London. The mystery and excitement of that day simply cannot be put into words! She has been a casting director for many years, working both in West End productions and in other London and regional theatres. As Theatre Relationship Volunteer, Briony is developing links with theatres and schools across the UK.

Independent Grants Reviewer 

We believe it is critical for the integrity of the charity that decisions regarding our grant awards should be led by an independent person. Their identity is not revealed to ensure there is no lobbying for grants. The person holding this position previously held multiple senior roles in software companies.