About us

John has been the Executive Director of Live & Local since its inception in 1994. John’s background is in small-scale touring, rural and community touring schemes and the technical management and design of permanent and temporary venues. John previously worked at Warwick Arts Centre in their technical department, at Tic Toc Theatre Company as production manager as well as designing and managing venues for their Edinburgh Fringe operations. John was the Chair of the National Rural Touring Forum (NRTF) from 2007 to 2017 and remains on their Board. He was awarded an MBE in 2020 for services to the Arts.

Contact John for: programming and menu development, technical issues, cost of shows, licensing.

Chris oversees Big Picture Show, DART (Developing Artists in Rural Touring), business development, fundraising, work with Children & Young People, and also manages one off or infrequent projects.

Contact Chris for: fundraising, business development opportunities, commissions, artist development opportunities, Big Picture Show, Friends Scheme, work with Children & Young People.

Kristie manages the Company administration of Live & Local. This includes administration for the Community Touring Schemes and business admin.

Laura provides administrative support to Live & Local’s programme of events including the Community Touring Scheme, Film Schemes and time-limited projects.

Contact Laura for: Returns and Report Forms, Big Picture Show, Moving Pictures, and general administration.

Zara is Live & Local's bookkeeper and provides daily administration support for the company.

Contact Zara for: all general enquiries, queries relating to finance, billing and invoicing, queries in regards to administration and Friends Scheme.

Brian provides support to the engagement team in writing copy for marketing materials, producing and distributing print for live events, maintaining mailing lists and social media and compiling venue access information.

Contact Brian for: general marketing enquiries, print enquiries, social media and promoter support.

Emily provides support to the engagement team in maintaining mailing lists, sourcing and writing copy for marketing materials, producing and distributing print, creating email and social media campaigns, and maintaining relationships with local and national press.

Contact Emily for: general marketing enquiries, print enquiries, social media and promoter support.

Beau provides daily administration support for Live & Local and is available as a first point of contact for general enquiries. They also support the engagement and rural hub towns teams in producing and distributing print, maintaining mailing lists, and creating email and social media campaigns.

Contact Beau for: general enquiries and queries in regards to our Friends Scheme.

Steve is responsible for supporting and developing artists who are both in the scheme or are interested in being part of it.

Contact Steve if you are an artist/arts organisation and need advice or support regarding what we do or how you can be part of our work.

Michele is responsible for recruiting and supporting promoters in the Live & Local networks, liaises with local authorities and is the point of contact for promoters in Derbyshire and Staffordshire.

Contact Michele for: promoter recruitment and support and liaison with local authority officers in Derbyshire and Staffordshire.

Lesley is responsible for recruiting and supporting promoters in the Live & Local networks. She liaises with local authorities and is the point of contact for promoters in Nottinghamshire and Lincolnshire. She is also the Rural Hub Town officer for Ollerton and Edwinstowe.

Contact Lesley for: promoter recruitment and support and liaison with local authority officers in Nottinghamshire and Lincolnshire; or contact Lesley if you live or work in Ollerton or Edwinstowe and would like to get involved with creating more arts opportunities in the area, or if you are an artist or potential partner organisation.

Nip is responsible for recruiting and supporting promoters in the Live & Local networks, liaises with local authorities and is the point of contact for promoters in Warwickshire, Worcestershire (formerly Shindig) and Leicestershire (formerly Centre Stage).

Contact Nip for: promoter recruitment and support and liaison with local authority officers in Leicestershire, Warwickshire and Worcestershire.

Jess manages the new Rural Hub Towns project which enhances community creativity in five market towns across the East and West Midlands. The towns are Eckington, Alford, Uttoxeter, Coleshill, Ollerton & Edwinstowe.

Contact Jess if you would like information about the project or how you can link to any of the 3 Community Engagement Officers covering the towns.

Aster works with communities in 3 of our Rural Hub Towns creating new arts activities for people of all ages and all interests.

Contact Aster if you live or work in Uttoxeter, Eckington, or Coleshill and would like to get involved with creating more arts opportunities in the area, or if you are an artist or potential partner organisation.

Martyn works with the community of Alford as part of our Rural Hub Towns project, creating new arts activities for people of all ages and all interests.

Contact Martyn if you live or work in Alford and would like to get involved with creating more arts opportunities in the area, or if you are an artist or potential partner organisation.