Festival Director
Co-founded in 2013, Assemble Fest is a one-day performance festival where Hull based theatre makers create work for the unusual spaces of Newland Avenue in Hull.
Key Responsibilities: Vision of Festival, Forging key partnerships with other organisations, and funders, commissioning new work, creating models for fair practice, pairing companies with mentors, and supporting artists develop new work.
Liaising with artistic supporters, Hull Truck Theatre, Venues North and Hull UK City of Culture and University of Hull. Liaising with traders and 80 independent businesses, securing sponsorship.
Managing core team of 5
Assemble Fest 2017
Festival commissioned 6 new pieces of work. Built the mentorship model creating relationships between artists creating mentorship over multiple sessions.
Director of Our Street Our Stage collaborating with 9 groups of artists to tell the story of a street. Research and development and design. Managing over 100 people, production manager and technical stage manager.
"Our street our stage was excellent. A brilliant concept staged in procession, engaging and emotive."
Martin Green - former CEO of Hull 2017
Assemble Fest 2016
Festival commissioned 6 new pieces of work with mentorship, forged relationship with Venues North. Employed curator to create multi art form engagement.
Directed in house taxi production - three plays performed in moving taxis.
“The festival is truly inclusive, taking theatre to the community in exciting and non- patronising ways and carrying out vital work in engaging new audiences in Hull.
It feels that a belief in artists is put at the core of the festivals and at no time did we feel as though our ideas or ability to deliver were doubted. Assemble Fest is a fantastic vehicle for companies to make fantastic work.”
Paul Smith Artistic Director Middle Child Theatre
Assemble Fest 2015
Two festivals working with 9 theatre companies on Newland Avenue, and Hessle Road in Hull.
Managing additional team - stage managers, box office, production managers, event staff.
"Hull may be gearing up to be UK city of culture in 2017, but sometimes it's the less flashy, local initiatives that really celebrate home-grown talent." Lyn Gardner, The Guardian
Assemble Fest 2014
Piloting the festival and directing the first production
First festival
Commissioning 7 theatre companies to make an original production in site specific spaces.
"The festival was a fantastic achievement: I was impressed with the quality of both the work shown and the slick organisation of the event itself. I thoroughly enjoyed working with my mentees, and found the experience valuable in thinking about my own work. The passion and dedication of everyone involved was wonderful to see - I hope the team will be able to take the festival on to even greater heights in future." Sarah Punshon Artistic Director Dukes Lancaster