Meet the team

Photo of Ian Kerry

Ian Kerry

Interim Company Manager | Ian started off as an Actor having trained at Rose Bruford College, and worked for many Theatre in Education companies over the UK. When the kids came along, he gave up this life and moved over to Arts Consultancy. He was instrumental in setting up Arts Alive in 1999 and developed the concept of touring cinema and Flicks in the Sticks.

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Terri Jones

Flicks Promoter Support

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Hazel Ockenden

Flicks Audience Engagement | With a background in textile design, Hazel’s love of all things creative and visual led to roles at a Textile Mill in Barcelona, a London-based Fashion Supplier and a multi-product Homeware’s Brand. Being a homebird at heart Hazel settled back in Shropshire, near to where she grew up, to start a family. Throughout her time at Arts Alive, Hazel’s role has grown and evolved and now sits within Flicks in the Sticks - a community project that she is delighted to be a part of.

Photo of Hannah Prior

Hannah Prior

Artistic Director

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Lisa Sullivan

Marketing & Audience Engagement Manager | Lisa has worked in Arts Marketing for 20 years, working with venues and organisations such as The Courtyard, Oxford Playhouse, 2Faced Dance Company, ZOO Venues, Shared Experience and the Royal & Derngate. Her passion lies in digital communications and working with communities and orgainsations to build audiences and raise their profile.

Photo of Angie Spencer-Tims

Angie Spencer-Tims

Audience & Promoter Support | Angie was born in Ludlow and lived around Shropshire and Herefordshire for most of her life. She trained in Stage Management at RWCMD and worked for around 12 years on a mix of touring Opera, Panto and drama. After a career detour she has returned to the arts both working for Arts Alive and being a Promoter in her own village.

Photo of Kate Dean

Kate Dean

Programming Assistant | Kate has immersed herself in the world of Events Management for over a decade, navigating the intricacies of large-scale green field festivals, prestigious classical music concerts, and captivating theatre productions. Recently joining the Arts Alive team, Kate brings not just her experience but a heartfelt desire to work with local communities. Kate's personal experience as a touring musician and accomplished printmaker enriches her approach, combining a distinct creative flair with practical expertise. Her enthusiasm, combined with a genuine love for the arts, fuels her mission to bring people together through a shared appreciation for creativity and culture.

Trustees

Photo of Paul Graham - Chair

Paul Graham - Chair

Paul has been a member of the Arts Alive board for more years than he cares to remember. He is a former lawyer widely experienced in the Arts and Government. After practising as a solicitor for a number of years he – as he puts it – moved to more interesting work, taking overall responsibility for a regional theatre and cinema complex and leading teams that conceived and managed several large building schemes. More latterly he worked for central government as a full time public tribunal chairman. His hobby job is artistic director at Ledbury’s Market Theatre where from time to time he also treads the boards.

Photo of Stephanie Hinton

Stephanie Hinton

Steph has always worked in the public sector, in the National Health Services and Local government, specifically in social services and specialising in Mental Health social work. She moved to Quatt, Shropshire in 2000 and straight away took to village life, having always lived and worked in a city. Steph is a trustee at Quatt Village Hall and the secretary of the committee. Through this role she became involved with Arts Alive as a promoter and has had the opportunity to be part of sharing many amazing productions.

Photo of Michael Connolly

Michael Connolly

Michael is a Lancastrian living on the Borderlands: Plasterer, Arts Marketeer, Oak Frame Marketeer, Oak Framers Team Manager. Following a dozen years counted in Pantomimes at the Oxford Playhouse and The Courtyard Hereford, Michael currently traverses the Private Sector for his full time employ; utilising the skills and knowledge needed to navigate those particular organisational frameworks and mixing it up with the experience gained at those previously mentioned Theatres (and various other organisations) to support and celebrate the Arts in the region.

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Louisa Mayor

Louisa has over 15 years experience working in the Arts. Since graduating from Edinburgh University, Louisa has worked for galleries, museums, an art fair and on a couple of film sets. Most recently she was Artistic Programme Manager at Meadow Arts and is now on their Board. Louisa is also passionate about rural issues and has a Masters degree from Royal Agricultural University. She divides her time between London and Shropshire.

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Judith Trustman

Judith is a poet with work published in a variety of poetry journals. She worked for 25 years as a barrister specialising in child protection. She has had a lifelong association with artists, musicians and writers. She is keenly aware of the arts as a force for good, both through her own work and that of her family who include actors, drama teachers, drama therapists and artists. Her connections to Shropshire span 35 years and she enjoys and welcomes Arts Alive’s important contribution to rural life.

Patrons

Photo of Julie Christie

Julie Christie

We are delighted to have iconic film actress Julie Christie as a patron of Flicks in the Sticks. She is the star of many classic British Films, such as Billy Liar, Don’t Look Now and Dr Zhivago, as well as more contemporary films such as Glorious 39, which has toured widely on the Flicks network. Julie says, "as someone who loves to live in the country but bemoans the sacrifice that has to be made through the dearth of good live shows and the rarity of quality films available on a big screen, I am very happy to be associated with Arts Alive and Flicks in the Sticks and recommend this exciting initiative."

Photo of Norman Wanstall

Norman Wanstall

As a schoolboy, Norman's first taste of the film industry came after a visit to Pinewood Studios, the experience left a lasting impression and from then on he dreamed of working in the movies. He began his impressive career as a trainee film editor on Jumping for Joy starring Frankie Howerd. After a plethora of editing credits he went on to work on the very first James Bond film, Dr. No as sound effects editor. He would then work on several more films in the Bond franchise, winning an Oscar in 1965 for Best Sound Effects Editing on Goldfinger. A founding member of the Guild of British Film Editors and he represented Britain on the first Features Jury at the Cork Film Fesitval. We are delighted to have Norman as our patron.

Photo of Tony Hawks

Tony Hawks

We are honoured to have Tony Hawks, the well known TV and radio comedian and bestselling author as our patron. Tony donated half of the royalties from his book Playing the Moldovans at Tennis to a trust fund for Moldova, which was used to open the Hippocrates Centre, a medical centre that provides rehabilitative therapy for disabled children from socially vulnerable families. Tony continues to support Hippocrates through fundraising and personal involvement and was awarded an MBE in the 2017 Birthday Honours List for his work with the centre. Tony says, “I came across Flicks in the Sticks last year when I was touring with my film Round Ireland With a Fridge, and I was taken aback not only by the scale of the Flicks operation but by the dedication of the volunteer promoters who bring so much pleasure to rural communities. I therefore wanted to lend my support to Flicks, and to help them, in any way I can.”