Who's Who
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Image: Artistic Director Stephen Unwin and Chief Executive Robert O'Dowd
Stephen Unwin - Artistic Director
Stephen read English at Cambridge, where he directed many student productions, including an award-winning production of Measure for Measure that transferred to the Almeida, where he was awarded an Arts Council Trainee Director’s Bursary.
For much of the 1980s, he was Associate Director at the Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh, and several of his productions transferred to London theatres. He worked with a wide range of leading actors, including Simon Rusell Beale, Tilda Swinton, Ken Stott, and dozens of others. In the early 1990s, he became Resident Director at the National Theatre Studio.
In 1993, Stephen founded English Touring Theatre, where he directed twenty productions, many of which were seen at the Old Vic, the Donmar, the Lyric Hammersmith and others. He stepped down from ETT in 2008 after fifteen years at the helm.
Stephen has also directed a dozen operas and worked across Europe.
His many books include The Pocket Guide to Shakespeare’s Plays; So You Want to be a Theatre Director?, The Guide to the Plays of Bertolt Brecht and The Well Read Play.
He was Visiting Professor at the University of California and the Judith E Wilson Visiting Fellow at Cambridge University.
You can follow Stephen Unwin on Twitter @RoseUnwin
Robert O'Dowd - Chief Executive
Robert O’Dowd has extensive experience in business and creative development. Combining a passion for the arts and design and a strong reputation in management, O’Dowd has worked in a diverse range of entrepreneurial environments - as an original Director of Classic FM, as Group Enterprise Director of GWR Group plc, as Chief Executive of Real Health (UK) Ltd and 180 Solutions (UK) Ltd.
Robert ran the hugely successful and influential Designs of the time programme for the Design Council redefining how citizens can co design solutions to their social and economic challenges. Most recently Robert was the Chief Executive of Pontio a new £44m Performing Arts and Innovation Centre for Bangor University in North Wales.
Robert is also a Trustee of the Retrospect Ensemble and Cornwall Neighborhoods for Change.
Sir Peter Hall - Director Emeritus
For more than 50 years Sir Peter Hall has been an internationally celebrated director of theatre, opera and film. He was the Founder/Director of the RSC (1960-68); Director of the NT (1973-88); and Artistic Director of Glyndebourne Opera (1984-90).
In 1988 he founded the Peter Hall Company working in partnership with leading West End producers. In 2003 he became Founding Director of the Rose Theatre, becoming Director Emeritus in 2008 when his acclaimed production of Uncle Vanya was the theatre’s opening production.
His most recent productions include, at the Rose, A Midsummer Night’s Dream starring Judi Dench; at the NT, Twelfth Night with Rebecca Hall and Simon Callow; and with his own company at the Theatre Royal Bath, Henry 1V Pts One & Two with Desmond Barrit and David Yelland.
Peter Hall has received many awards in the UK and Europe as well as two Tonys in the USA. He was Knighted in 1977 for services to the British Theatre.
EXECUTIVE
Robert O'Dowd Chief Executive
Stephen Unwin Artistic Director
Jerry Gunn Executive Producer
ADMINISTRATION
Naomi Webb Administrator to the Executive Team
MARKETING & DEVELOPMENT
Lisa Couzens Marketing Manager
Doug Cowan Digital Marketing and Communications Officer
Emma Richards Head of Fundraising
Hannah Platts Development Coordinator
BOX OFFICE
Frank Saunders Ticket Sales Manager
Brett Foulser Database and Deputy Ticket Sales Manager
Miriam Barhoum, Anthony Hoskyns, Andy Watkins, Rachel Cash, Megan Elliot, Josh Mathieson Box Office Assistants
FINANCE
Sheila McClenaghan Finance Manager
Jane Richards Payroll and Finance Officer
OPERATIONS
Paul Marshall Theatre Manager
Haroula Lountzi Front of House and Events Manager
David Pollock Access and Events Supervisor
Imogen Smart-Steel Bars and Catering Manager
Rebekah Brazier, Cordell DeBardeLabden, Miriam Elgon, Dave Johnson, Sally Kerry, Matt Lloyd, Eljai Morais, Emily Morris, Sadie Pepperell, Edith Sommerville, Jo Spooner, Katie Louise Williams Front of House Team
Hadleigh Harrison, Bethany Smith, Michael Topolski Bar Supervisors
Harvey Cooper, Jack Dimes, Turan Duncan, Rebekah Hester, Caitlin Joseph, Lara Lemon, Ian Lowe, Harry Mead, Matthew Robinson Bars Team
Jonathan Beaumont, Lucy Chandler, Hannah Cleevely, Carrie Foulkes, Liz James, Rebecca Law, Matt Lloyd, Jeremy Lord, Dana Marshall, Andy Watkins Stage Door Keepers
LEARNING AND PARTICIPATION
Ciaran McConville Director of Learning & Participation
PRODUCTION
Wayne Parry Head of Production
David Starmer Lighting/Sound Supervisor
Robert Wells Stage Supervisor
Jen Chatfield, Jess Mullins, Pete Reed Production Technician
Polly Bailey Technician
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
David Jacobs CBE DL Life President
Anthony Simonds-Gooding CBE Chair
Professor Gail Cunningham
Chris Foy
Tish Francis DL
Baroness Hamwee
Roger Hayes
Thelma Holt CBE
Robin Hutchinson
Professor Martyn Jones
David Kester
Marit Mohn
Ciara Morris
Robert O'Dowd
Cllr. Barry O’Mahony
David Tallis
Jenny Tomley
Hugh Williams
EXTERNAL ADVISORS
Rosie Hoare Project Director
Geoff Howard Company Secretary
Arthur Leone Press Consultant
Ginny Schiller Casting Associate
Vic Kouyoumjian Finance Associate
Greg Ripley-Duggan Associate Producer
Professor Ian Brown Cultural Consultant
Rose Ambassador Roger Chown
We would like to extend our warmest thanks to our team of Volunteer Ushers, Rose Ambassadors, Rose Reps and office volunteers, without whom we would not be able to operate.
Photo - Sophie Fenton