There are lots of people backstage at St. George’s Theatre. Here are some of the people who help to keep the spotlight on talent and entertainment in Great Yarmouth.
There are lots of people backstage at St. George’s Theatre. Here are some of the people who help to keep the spotlight on talent and entertainment in Great Yarmouth.
Debbie Thompson
Theatre Director
Originally from Norfolk, Debbie left to study for a BA Honours in Drama at Loughborough University. After graduating, she pursued her love of theatre, and trained at the Drama Studio, London. Debbie worked as a professional actor for 10 years, performing in the West End, on television and in repertory. In 1995 Debbie went to Greenwich University to take a PGCE in Media and Theatre Studies before returning to Norfolk to bring up her family and work as a drama teacher. In 2002 she joined Sheringham Little Theatre as Theatre Director and became Producer for Sheringham’s summer repertory season and its annual professional pantomime. In 2017 Debbie was engaged to write a strategy for St. George’s Theatre to create a true community theatre. Having fond memories of performing at St. George’s when she was younger, Debbie was delighted to be asked to take on the role of Theatre Director of St. George’s too.
Email: debbie@stgeorgestheatre.com
James MacDonald
General Manager
James started at St George’s in October 2020 as the Front of House and Marketing Officer and became the General Manager in March 2021.
He had previously worked at Norwich Theatre Royal, Norwich Playhouse, The Interlude Festival and the University of East Anglia.
Before starting work, he graduated from Lancaster University with a BA (hons) in English Literature. He also completed an MA in Creative Writing at the UEA while working full time.
In his spare time James writes scripts and roller skates… not at the same time.
Email: admin@stgeorgestheatre.com
Twitter: @JDMAC177
Mark Benfield
Technical Manager
Mark has been working in the entertainment sector for many years and considers himself very fortunate in his career to date. Comfortable as both an Actor and an Engineer he has a wealth of productions “under his belt” over more years than he cares to remember. Mark enjoys the excitement and adrenaline rush of live shows and can often be found sound engineering for bands and theatres including the Royal Opera House. He is probably best known as an organised and adaptable Duty and Production Manager, facilitating shows, events and festivals, ensuring that every aspect of the project is safe and controlled. Mark is very excited to be working with this great team and helping them with the incredible work that they do.
Email: tech@stgeorgestheatre.com
Claire Carter
Finance Manager
Claire is a certified accountant, who previously worked at a London based retail company.
She has been the finance manager of Sheringham Little Theatre for five years and joined the St George’s team at the start of 2021.
Louis Griffin
Technical assistant
Daisy Winchester
Community and Participation Officer
Phyllis Ellett
Domestic Assistant
Stash Kirkbride
Trustee
Stash is our trustee responsible for fundraising and volunteer participation. He trained at Bristol Old Vic Theatre School and worked as a professional actor/producer in London for 25 years, including the West End, London Fringe, No: 1 National Tours and in rep across the UK. He returned home to Norfolk in 2005. He is co-founder and Artistic Director of The Hostry Festival at Norwich Cathedral (2010 – 2020), where projects he initiated or helped develop and fundraise for include The Norfolk Arts Awards, Total Ensemble Theatre Co and the new African Choir of Norfolk. From 2014 – 2016 he was Co-Creative Director of the Maddermarket Theatre. For all the above he has fundraised and engaged with Norfolk businesses, charities and trusts, as well as philanthropic investors. In 2017 he was invited to be Artistic Director of Holt Festival for its 10th anniversary 2018 and in 2019 he brought the Norfolk Arts Awards to St George’s Theatre.
Steve Scott
Chairman
Steve is managing director of Great Yarmouth-based TMS Media, a communications company specialising in PR, graphic design, web development, exhibitions and events. The company’s clients range from start-ups to multinationals. Steve is an ardent theatre-goer with a broad taste that takes in everything from opera (nothing too heavy) to stand-up comedy. Chair of the St. George’s Theatre trustees since January 2020, Steve also chairs the trustees of the Centre 81 charity, which operates a skills and activities centre for disabled people in Yarmouth and a fleet of 11 fully accessible minibuses for people who can’t access traditional public transport.
Linda Fellas
Trustee
Linda has spend virtually all her life in Great Yarmouth, and as a child regularly
appeared in community theatre. The majority of her career has been spent in the hospitality sector, owning and running hotels and restaurants both in Yarmouth and in Cyprus. A change of career took her to university as a mature student where she gained a masters degree and became a social work manager, working with families in the local community. Recently, Linda has chaired the local branch of University of the Third Age, and through Inner Wheel has become an avid fundraiser for local projects.
Paul Wylie
Trustee
Paul worked at Aviva in for more than twenty years, following which he delivered major locational projects for banking and government organisations until he retired in 2013. Since the late 1990s, he focused on managing change in property and manpower programmes. He became a volunteer at St. George’s in January 2018 and was appointed a trustee with responsibility for property and facilities projects in August 2019. A former school governor, Paul has also been a voluntary consultant in retail and property strategy to Age UK Norfolk since 2013. He is a Norwich City season ticket holder, enjoys cycling and playing squash, and has five children/stepchildren and four grandchildren to keep him busy. Paul is a life-long music lover and theatregoer, particularly enjoying productions by local theatre groups and smaller shows in the West End.
Lorraine Lavan
Minutes Secretary
As well as taking minutes at trustee meetings, Lorraine is an active volunteer at St George’s Theatre and leads theatre’s Community Singers. A retired art teacher, she is passionate about the arts and says that theatre is life-enhancing and is for everyone. Lorraine believes St George’s stunning architecture, friendly staff, volunteers and customers, and programming reflect society as a whole. Two thought-provoking and enjoyable shows that illustrated this were an interactive song and dance show for an audience of local dementia sufferers and a play about living with autism. The future of theatre lies with our young people, and Lorraine feels that St George’s Youth Theatre continues a long-held tradition and never fails to produce amazing shows, often to a full house.
Alexandra Johnson
Treasurer
Alexandra’s career spans bookkeeping and Financial Management, selling accounts IT packages and for 20 years as co-founder and COO of a multimillion pound public company in the Satellite Communications Industry. Before retirement, she spent 5 years as a consultant in the industry. She is now enjoying an opportunity to support a life long love of the Arts as a Trustee at St Georges Theatre. She is married with two sons and a step daughter.