Theatre Royal Plymouth announce new trustees

Theatre Royal Plymouth is pleased to announce the appointment of nine new members to their Board of Trustees.

Earlier this year, as part of a period of creative and organisational development, TRP began recruitment for new Trustees to increase and diversify their Board. As important custodians of the charity and who set the strategic direction for the theatre, this has been a great opportunity to add more voices, diversity and experience to their Board.

The new Trustees announced today are: Dawn Bebe, Angie Bual, Alastair Coomer, Lynda Grzelinski, Andy Ibbs, Sarah McAdam, Julie Nash, Samra Said and Hannah Sloggett.

The new trustees join existing trustees: Nick Buckland OBE (Chair), Bronwen Lacey (Vice Chair), Emma Huxham, Sarah Fysh, Shona Godefroy, James Pidgeon and Imogen Kinchin.

James Mackenzie-Blackman, Chief Executive and Executive Producer at Theatre Royal Plymouth said: “Early in 2022 our Trustees set an ambitious target to increase the size of the board to ensure we are fit for the future. TRP, and the cultural sector, more broadly, continue to face significant challenges to our business models due to the social and economic operating conditions. I am thrilled that we have secured such exceptional, and such diverse talent, that I am sure will help us navigate the months and years ahead whilst remaining creatively ambitious and courageous.”

As the largest producing theatre in the South West, TRP plays an important anchor role in the cultural life in the city of Plymouth and the wider region. Their new Trustees will offer a broad range of viewpoints and experience which will support TRP’s beliefs in the widest sense of diversity as they strive to reflect that.

James Mackenzie-Blackman took up post as Chief Executive of TRP in January and eleven months on, after an extensive period of listening, getting to know the organisation, the city and some of the theatre’s key stakeholders, TRP are preparing to enter a new chapter in the life of the charity.

Chair of Theatre Royal Plymouth’s Board of Trustees, Nick Buckland OBE said: “It is an exciting and interesting time for our new trustees to be joining our board and I was delighted in the interest shown in the opportunity to join the board from the large number of high-quality applicants we received. Our new trustees have already made an impact and will only strengthen the exceptional organisation that is the Theatre Royal Plymouth. I look forward to working with them.”

The new Trustees officially took up their posts on Tuesday 29th November where they were welcomed by existing Board members and TRP staff

Dawn Bebe

Has served as a FTSE 100 Director and has 30 years’ experience in media & communications as well as previous experience on the Plymouth Culture Board. Dawn lives in Kingsand and is a founder and director of Crowdfunder.co.uk, now HQ-ed in Cornwall. Dawn’s remit at Crowdfunder includes diversity, inclusion and community partnerships.

Angie Bual

Angie is the Creative Director of Trigger. She is a winner of the Creative Producer Arts Foundation Award.

Angie is a Creative Fellow as part of the Bristol City Fellows, and is a member of the London Area Council of Arts Council England. She is also a Clore Fellow (Theatre).

Angie was also the creative lead on The Hatchling which premiered in Plymouth 2020 and went on to lead the Queens Platinum Jubilee this summer.

Alastair Coomer CDG

Alastair is Director of Casting at the National Theatre. Previously he was Casting Director at the Donmar Warehouse. He started his career at the NT and still works as a freelance casting director for film and TV in London, Los Angeles and around the world.

Alastair has family who live on The Hoe so he is in Plymouth often. He lives in London and Suffolk.

Lynda Grzelinski

Has had a distinguished career history in performing arts management, including work with Cambridge Theatre Company, Manchester Royal Exchange, and 12 years with the RSC (9 years as Exec Prod and 3 years as a Producer). Subsequently Lynda trained as a cognitive behaviour therapist and moved to Cornwall in 2013.

Andy Ibbs

Andy is a retired senior executive from the local NHS and has significant corporate and public sector experience. He is a huge fan of TRP and very much sees himself as a loyal audience member. Andy has significant hearing loss. He lives in Plymouth.

Sarah McAdam

Is the Dean of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences Plymouth Marjon University, having worked with the University for 12 years in various roles.  Sarah brings experience in partnership and programme building, and is also an external member of the Academic Board of North-eastern University, London.

Julie Nash

Julie’s interest in the theatre began at an early age, when her mum and dad used to take her and her sister to see the ballet in Bristol and London. Pantos were also a big thing in her family; Julie’s great uncle being Stan Stennett! Despite that however, she never craved to be a performer and instead chose to teach.

Over her career, Julie has worked in many roles across the South West, eventually becoming a Headteacher in a small Cornish secondary school. The focus during her time in schools was inclusion and ensuring every child had a chance to succeed. Having seen herself the hugely positive impact all aspects of the theatre have on the life chances of young people, Julie sees this position as Trustee as a way to continue that focus.

Samra Said

Samra is currently a London-based Senior Producer at Arts & Homelessness International, working with councils to co-create policy and programmes with people who are/have been homeless. 

Hannah Sloggett

Is Co Director of Nudge Community Builders, a Community Benefit Society bringing buildings back into use on Union Street. Hannah brings experience of managing grants, social finance, private investment and Community Share offers, as well as negotiating on complex property acquisitions.  She has been a school governor for five years and was on the Community Business Panel for Power to Change.