Our Team

“I’ve been an actress, I’ve run education courses, I’ve worked in senior positions with Ovalhouse, The Albany, and Jackson Lane. Now, I’m so lucky to be working at Stagetext.

“Shaping our strategy and instigating real change in the way deaf access is delivered and received is not only exciting, but an absolute privilege.

“I work closely with organisations across the country to ensure that access is embedded from day one. Recently I’ve been made a cultural ambassador for Essex. I love working with such a dedicated team and am excited to see how much we can achieve together.”

“My role at Stagetext is to develop funding applications for trusts, foundations, and statutory funders. I take the lead on research to support our advocacy, for example, research into the prevalence of subtitle use. I’m also the Deputy CEO, so I work closely with Melanie and lead the team if she is away.

“Before joining Stagetext I worked for Arts Council England and the other National Lottery funders, which has helped me to understand and develop our place as a charity within the arts. Now I’m thrilled to be here with Stagetext, working to ensure that no one is excluded from the arts.

“I enjoy going to live events and playing music, and I’m a trustee of Trowbridge Town Hall, an arts venue in my hometown.”

Stagetext has had such a transformative effect on my life that I joined the charity as Head of Advocacy and Engagement. My role is to raise our profile and spread the word about Stagetext.

I’ve been partially deaf since a young a child and wear hearing aids and I’m passionate about using new technology to make the arts more inclusive and accessible.

I started my career at the BBC, where I worked as a broadcast journalist for both local radio and BBC online. Since then, I have worked across a wide range of sectors including the games and entertainment industries, the charity sector and education.

I am a marketing and communications specialist and have more than 20 years’ experience in private, public and not-for-profit sectors.

“I went to Durham university and did a BSc in Psychology, worked for a stint in marketing, and then came to Stagetext. After four and a half years managing the digital subtitle programme, I’ve moved to the role of Head of Systems and Services.

As a deaf person from birth, and a fan of theatre for almost as long, Stagetext has been a critical part of my life for many years, long before I worked here. I’ve always had a passion for theatre and the arts, and was involved in productions both in and out of school, at the Chickenshed theatre, and Arcola Queer Collective.

It’s thanks to Stagetext that I’ve been able to enjoy the theatre for many years, and it’s incredible to be able to work within the charity, pushing for more accessible art every day.”

“I studied Sociology and Social Policy at the University of Leeds. I’ve always had a passion for theatre. Ranging from in-house projects for the Courtyard Theatre and with Interactive Theatre International on their show Faulty Towers: The Dining Experience.

“I’m 50% deaf, so working with Stagetext towards full access for deaf audiences is a great fit for me.”

“I moved from Wales to London to study Moving Image at the University of the Arts and never left. My passion for theatre has grown over the years and it’s through theatre that I met my fiancé. I count myself as a regular theatre goer and do rely on Stagetext to fully immerse into the experience.

“My background in marketing and social media has been varied, from reviewing restaurants and events, to becoming the social media lead for a Deaf LGBT+ charity organisation called Deaf Rainbow UK, which I am a board member. Before this role I was the social media lead for UK Deaf Sport.

“I have a real passion for the arts and online work focusing on deafness and intersectionality. Stagetext fits in with my personal ethos and I am excited to show that with my work.”

My background is working in backstage and administrative roles in theatre and outdoor arts. Through that work I was lucky to come across Stagetext at the same time as I was starting to lose my hearing.

As an audience member, theatre captioning has been a lifeline for me and I’m passionate about spreading the word to other deaf, deafened and hard of hearing people. I’d like to see a world where everyone who would benefit has access to high quality captioning and live subtitling, knows how to make the most of it and gets to fully enjoy theatre and spoken word events alongside everyone else

“I come to Stagetext from a museums and heritage background, having studied Archaeology and Ancient History. I’ve worked in the collections departments of various museums, helping to digitalise their collections.

“I’ve always been an advocate for increased access everywhere I’ve worked. I’m in the process of learning British Sign Language, having attained Level One.

“Through Stagetext, I’m excited to be able to give many more people access to museum/gallery events, tours and talks.”

Since I was young, I have had a strong passion for theatre & the arts. I participated in many workshops, dramas, theatres, and youth clubs, as well as the annual summer Sadlers Wells Green Candle for the deaf. My family introduced me to Stagetext, with the first show I saw being Fiddler on the Roof at the Crucible. Since then, I have never gone to a show without captions.

Being profoundly deaf since the age of two and using a cochlear Implant, I communicate through both speech and sign language. Graduating from Reading University with a degree in Theatre Arts, Education & Deaf Studies. I progressed my career as an actor with my first stage debut at Nottingham Playhouse in collaboration with Ramps on the Moon. Since then, I have trained as a Trainee Assistant Stage Manager on the national tour of Tommy,  worked front of house, storyteller, workshop facilitator, and educator. I also love going to the theatre as an audience member!

Without Stagetext, I would not have had the same level of access to the career that I love.

I have always been passionate about theatre and the performing arts. I studied Theatre and Performance at The University of Surrey, where I undertook a year-long placement with Stopgap Dance Company. There, I experienced incredible inclusive working practices first-hand. Since then, I have endeavoured to integrate my passion for access and inclusion into my work. I have worked in various roles in arts organisations in the East of England, specialising in creative engagement and project delivery. Alongside my work, I am also a dance artist and practitioner, specialising in inclusive dance, as well as exploring my own choreographic projects.

I have admired the work of Stagetext from a young age, and I am excited to be working in an organisation that improves access to theatre and other events for audiences.

For any enquiries relating to our digital services, please contact Oliver Webster at [email protected]