Meet the Team

The Board

DI HARRIS (CHAIR), GERRY HANNON  (TREASURER), JOHN WILLIAMS, MARK POWELL, JEANETTE CHIPPING AND DEREK NEWLAND.

These are the people who are legally responsible for the company and its activities. They do this for free! How wierd! However, they are fine people who give fantastic support to the staff and advise them on best practice and policies. We have to say nice things about them because they set our rates of pay.

BENEDICT ECCLES

Artistic Producer

Ben is the guy who thinks he's in charge. He recommends - with the aid of our official Board of Management - what the Company's overall policy will be, what professional shows we are going to put on, what outreach and education work we do, and he also talks to our major funders - Arts Council of England and Swindon Borough Council. Ben also directs one or more of the Company's professional productions each year and some of our bigger outreach projects.

As Sixth Sense's Artistic Producer, Ben has created over 30 new writing commissions for young people over the past 15 years. He has commissioned and produced work with several major theatre organisations including Salisbury Playhouse, Cheltenham Everyman, Oxfordshire Touring Theatre Company and Greenwich Young Peoples Theatre. He also directs mainstream theatre and corporate video productions internationally. Ben has been involved with various committees which influence young people and theatre ranging from the ITC/Arts Council of England national sector steering committee to assessing grant applications for the Princes and Royal Trusts.

Ben is also an Advisor for Swindon Borough Council - sitting on various committees which consider cultural strategies and policies and arts & education partnerships. He has recently been elected as Chair of the Theatre Locality Plan and interim board member for Swindon 's Cultural Development Partnership.

MERVYN HEARD

P/T General Manager

Mervyn has worked in all branches of theatre and arts administration. He has worked for Unicorn Children's Theatre in London, at the Globe Theatre on the South Bank, the Watermill at Newbury and for various touring companies. He also presents Victorian Magic Lantern shows in theatres, museums and village halls in the UK and internationally. By the way, he's got a PHD!

JEMMA BAKER

Company Administrator

Jemma spends most of the time in the office...all alone!  She is responsible for booking the company's professional tours, marketing, finance and Swindon Youth Theatre.  Jemma has a BA honours degree in Media, Communication and Social Policy which she gained at Nottingham Trent University.  The majority of her previous work entailled working with young people- as a  Primary Literacy Assistant at Greenwood Infant School in Sneinton, Nottingham, and Activity Manager for Isis Education and Travel- one of the country's leading student and youth tour operators.  

LAURA DLUCIK

Education & Outreach Leader

Laura has worked with young people of all ages on a variety of theatre projects.  She has directed at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, run summer schools, worked as a secondary school teacher and on developmental schemes in primary schools.  She has a degree in Drama and English which she gained at Bristol University and now leads Swindon Youth Theatre workshops/participatory workshops for specific & diverse audience groups of young people, and provides services in youth, education, arts and community settings.