New York Exchange Producers Programme 2023

Pictured left to right: Top: Christabel Holmes, Emeline Touzet, Jess Donn, Jack Maple; Middle: Hannah Smith, John Tomlinson, Lian Wilkinson, Sofi Berenger; Bottom: Tanya Truman, Tara Geraghty, Grace Dickson, Mitchell Reeve.

 

We’re pleased to announce the 12 producers partaking in Stage One’s New York Exchange Programme for 2023. In September 2023 we will take 12 producers  to New York for one week to learn everything about how to produce on Broadway. The course is designed for Stage One producers who have a clear ambition to produce on or off Broadway including taking work to New York that has originated in the UK. Each participant will receive a grant for their travel and accommodation to take part in the programme.

This week is a very exciting week as we’ve welcomed 12 producers taking part in the MFA Theatre Producing Course at Columbia University to London’s West End for a week long intensive series of workshops on how to produce in London and the UK. We’re looking forward to having both groups meet this week, to get the networking and collaboration started!

 

Christabel Holmes
Christabel is a London based creative producer and general manager. She is currently Producer for the Young Vic, where she works closely with the Artistic and Executive Directors to plan and deliver the annual artistic programme of main house, studio and transferring productions. Prior to the Young Vic Christabel spent three years commissioning, developing and producing new writing across the UK and beyond for Paines Plough, where she cultivated a multi-year touring partnership in collaboration with over 30 nationwide arts venues. She has a BA (Hons) in English Literature and Theatre Studies from Leeds University, and also spent a year in France studying at Université de Nantes. After graduating, she worked on numerous large-scale plays and musicals in the West End as part of producing teams at Seabright Productions, Fiery Angel and Playful Productions via the Stage One Trainee Producer scheme. Recently, she participated in the Clore Emerging Leaders programme 2022.

 

Jack Maple
Jack is a theatre producer and general manager, who became one of the West End’s youngest producers at the age of 20, when he co-produced the Olivier Award-winning revival of Show Boat at the New London Theatre.

Select producing credits include The Witches of Eastwick in Concert (Sondheim Theatre); Who’s Holiday! (HOME Manchester & Southwark Playhouse); Cratchit (Park Theatre); Michael Morpurgo’s Private Peaceful (Barn Theatre and Bristol Old Vic); The View UpStairs (Soho Theatre); The Rink (Southwark Playhouse – winner of five Off-West End Awards); Working (Southwark Playhouse) and as Associate Producer; Mart Crowley’s The Boys In the Band (Park Theatre, National Tour & Vaudeville Theatre).

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Jack was the Executive Producer and General Manager on The Show Must Go On! Live at the Palace Theatre. He also produced the Evening Standard Future Theatre Fund Awards in association with TikTok (Apollo Theatre).

For the past six years, Jack has also been Production Co-Ordinator on Bat Out Of Hell the Musical (Manchester, Toronto, West End, Germany, Las Vegas & International Tour). Other work at MPSI includes; Sergei Polunin’s Satori (London Coliseum)

Jack started his career interning at Jamie Wilson Productions, and subsequently went on to work as Assistant to the Company Manager on Charlie and the Chocolate Factory The Musical (Theatre Royal Drury Lane) and Assistant Producer on Accolade (St James Theatre).

 

John Tomlinson
John is the Producer at Sheffield Theatres, one of the UK’s most prominent producing theatres and the largest complex outside of London. He is a Senior Manager, responsible for the management of production and creative teams, in-house productions and the organisation’s Learning and Participation department. He has led multiple productions for Sheffield Theatres over his four years in the role, including the multi award-winning Standing at the Sky’s Edge, Life of Pi and Rock/Paper/Scissors.

He is a founding member and Executive Director of Stand & Be Counted Theatre – an arts charity and the UK’s first Theatre Company of Sanctuary. He previously worked as Producer at York Theatre Royal and Programme Manager at Contact Theatre, Manchester.

John was one of Stage One’s first Apprentice Producer regional placements in 2013. He has a first-class BA (Hons) degree in Media and Performance from The University of Salford.

 

Emeline Touzet
Emeline is a French-born, London-based theatre producer. Since October 2022, she has worked as a Production Assistant for Jamie Wilson Productions on Ain’t Too Proud in the West End and the UK tour of Sister Act. Prior to this, she worked in the Programming and Events Management teams at Riverside Studios, notably on the 2022 edition of the Bitesize festival, whilst developing shows with her own production company. Before moving to the UK, Emeline worked in Paris for four years in politics and public affairs. She looks forward to expanding her knowledge of Broadway through the exchange program.

 

Jess Donn
Jess is a Manchester-based producer, specialising in interdisciplinary and interactive work. As a freelance producer, Jess is currently working on numerous projects in both the commercial & subsidised sectors, supported by the Stage One Bursary. They have produced work/led national tours in some of the UK’s top venues including The Lowry, Hull Truck & Summerhall. They are the Associate Producer of award winning companies Plaster Cast and Shepard Tone Theatre. Previously, Jess was at Mercury Theatre, Colchester as part of the Stage One Regional Placement, where they assisted on the opening season of shows on the venue’s relaunch post COVID & capital redevelopment. Additionally, Jess is an Access Worker, Fundraiser & Arts Programmer.

 

Hannah Smith
Hannah is an independent producer, currently working with The Wardrobe Ensemble, Brook Tate, Impermanence Dance Theatre & Flawbored. She is Executive Producer for The Wardrobe Ensemble and has worked with them for 10 years, producing shows including Education, Education, Education, The Last of the Pelican Daughters and Mog the Forgetful Cat, as well as pop-up theatre festival Theatre on the Downs in summer 2021. She has also worked with Cardboard Citizens, Fifth Word, Wayward Productions and curious directive.

 

Lian Wilkinson
Lian is the Executive Producer of New Earth Theatre, producing work created by British East and South East Asian (BESEA) artists. They are a touring company that presents shows and readings across the year, nurtures BESEA talent as well as engage artists with communities, museums and schools. Recent credits include: The Apology, Sonic Phở, Tsunagu/Connect and Miss Julie (in a co-production with Storyhouse). Previously, Lian was the Sustained Theatre Regional Associate Producer at Belgrade Theatre Coventry with Tamasha Theatre and produced shows commercially in the UK, Adelaide (Adelaide Fringe) and New York (Brits Off Broadway). She is also an Independent Theatre Council board member.

 

Sofi Berenger
Sofi is a Sri Lankan theatre producer hailing from Melbourne, Australia. She is currently the Senior Producer at Kings Head Theatre. Previously, she was the Producer & General Manager for VAULT Festival, General Manager of Olivier-award nominated Les Enfants Terribles and Producer of London’s Free Open Air Theatre Season at The Scoop. Sofi is the chairwoman for Iris Theatre based in Covent Garden.

Sofi also extensively produces independently with her companies Metal Rabbit Productions and Wound Up Theatre whose productions include The Prince (Southwark Playhouse, winner of 3x Broadwayworld.com awards including Best New Play), Mediocre White Male, We’re Staying Right Here and Fishskin Trousers (Park Theatre), Radiant Vermin and Cuckoo (Soho Theatre),Spiderfly (Theatre503), Fiesta (Trafalgar Studios) and Bismillah! (VAULT, Pleasance, Underbelly & UK Tour). Metal Rabbit’s next production is The Misandrist at Arcola Theatre.

Sofi also teaches on the Masters of Creative Producing course at Central School of Speech & Drama and won an Offie Award in 2017.

 

Tanya Truman
Tanya Truman was a recipient of the Stage One 2022 Bursary award. She is passionate about developing and amplifying new, female and Jewish led stories.

Independent producing includes: Becoming Nigella (Debuting at BEAM2023, Oxford Playhouse); Pickle (Triple OFFIE Nominated – Park Theatre, Manchester Jewish Museum, Radlett Centre in 2022. Soho Theatre July 2023); Little Sausage (The Other Palace); Stills (JW3); These Demons (R&D, Seven Dials Playhouse – 2023 London run confirmed); Confessions Of A Rabbi’s Daughter (Other Palace); The Barn (Turbine Theatre); On Cloud Nine (White Bear Theatre).

 

Tara Geraghty
Tara is a London-based producer with a passion for musical theatre, sociopolitical plays and new writing. Although still early in her career, she has gained experience producing shows independently in London, as well as working at Regent’s Park Theatre, the Old Vic Theatre and currently, as the Production Coordinator and assistant to CEO at Delfont Mackintosh Theatres. Tara is committed to learning and growing as a producer, and bringing innovative, thought-provoking theatre to diverse audiences around the world.

 

Grace Dickson
Grace is a Newcastle born, London based producer, general manager and production accountant. She produces work through Grace Dickson Productions, and has independently produced over 20 projects in the last 3 years. Credits include Project Dictator (New Diorama Theatre), Whodunnit [Unrehearsed] 2 (Park Theatre), Move Fast and Break Things (Summerhall), Belly Up (Turbine Theatre), Flushed (Park Theatre), Chatham House Rules (Pleasance), and Different Owners at Sunrise (Roundhouse). She is the co-founder and finance & administration manager of HD General Management.

Grace is Associate Producer at Francesca Moody Productions, with whom she is working on a huge range of productions and development projects, from fringe to the West End. She is Company Producer for Lagahoo Productions (SPLINTERED, Soho Theatre; BOGEYMAN, Edinburgh Fringe) and These Girls (Bible John, Edinburgh Fringe).

Grace is Accounts Assistant & Bookkeeper at Runaway Entertainment working on a number of West End and No.1 touring productions including Newsies and 2.22 A Ghost Story. She has worked as an Associate Producer for multiple socially engaged organisations including REcreate Agency, Park Theatre, Freight Theatre and Rhum + Clay.

Grace holds a BSc in Mathematics from the University of Edinburgh and an MA in Creative Producing with Distinction from Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts. She was previously Assistant Producer to Ellie Claughton with whom she worked for award-winning political touring companies Breach (It’s True, It’s True, It’s True; Joan of Leeds), LUNG (Trojan Horse; Who Cares) and Barrel Organ (Conspiracy). She was also the General Manager of Rhum + Clay and the Production Coordinator at LIVE General Management.

 

Mitchell Reeve
M. Green Productions is an independent theatre production company dedicated to delivering exceptional productions worldwide. Founded by theatre producer Mitchell Reeve, the company is committed to presenting works that engage, inspire, and captivate audiences.

Current productions include the Off-Broadway Premiere of Foxes, which will play at 59e59 Theaters this Summer.

M. Green Productions’ past productions have also garnered critical acclaim and recognition, including Steve at Seven Dials Playhouse, Death Drop at Garrick Theatre, UK&Ir Tour and Criterion Theatre, Wonderville: Magic and Illusion Live at The Palace Theatre, Dark Sublime at Trafalgar Studios, San Domino, The Gulf, and Pete ‘n’ Keely at Tristan Bates Theatre.