40 Profiles: Jane Hall, Development Manager

As part of our 40th Birthday celebrations, you can explore what really goes on behind the scenes of a producing theatre as we profile 40 of our staff members throughout the year. From Box Office staff to backstage, you'll meet the people that keep Northern Stage running every day.

Next is Jane Hall, Development Manager

What does your job involve?

Raising funds to support Northern Stage’s ambitious programme of shows and participation projects.

What is your favourite part of your job?

I love the variety and the ability to manage my own time. Every day is different, I could be organising a big fundraising event, writing a sponsorship proposal, meeting a prospective supporter, or researching new sources of funding.
What is your favourite part of the theatre?

L20 and L21 (my children have their names on those seats).

What are you most looking forward to in Northern Stage's birthday year?

Loads! Top three at the moment are the Annual Dinner, Oh What a Lovely War and the Summer Fete.

Would you rather have a Birthday cake or a Birthday present?

I’ll take the cash please!

40 Profiles: John Disley, Front of House Manager

As part of our 40th Birthday celebrations, you can explore what really goes on behind the scenes of a producing theatre as we profile 40 of our staff members throughout the year. From Box Office staff to backstage, you'll meet the people that keep Northern Stage running every day.

Next up is John Disley, Front of House Manager.

What does your job involve?

Ensuring that all the Front of House areas run as smoothly, efficiently and as safely as possible and that all our customers receive a warm welcome and get the most out of their visit to the theatre.

What is your favourite part of your job?

Meeting new audiences, seeing new performances.

What is your favourite part of the theatre?

The bar.

What are you most looking forward to in Northern Stage's birthday year?

The vast and varied programme of work.

Would you rather have a Birthday cake or a Birthday present?

Cake.

40 Profiles: Lucy Crimmens, Creative and Cultural Apprentice

As part of our 40th Birthday celebrations, you can explore what really goes on behind the scenes of a producing theatre as we profile 40 of our staff members throughout the year. From Box Office staff to backstage, you'll meet the people that keep Northern Stage running every day.

Second is Lucy Crimmens, our first ever Sound, Light and Stage Creative & Cultural Apprentice.

What does your job involve?

I’m the first recipient of the Peter Green Award which honours our previous Production Manager and helps train up new theatre technicians through an apprenticeship. So I’m learning about all aspects of technical theatre; from lighting a show to laying floors

What is your favourite part of your job?

The people I work with and the experience I get from all the different companies and people I meet.

What is your favourite part of the theatre?

The dock [backstage (un)loading bay] in the summer. Anywhere warm in the winter.

What are you most looking forward to in Northern Stage's birthday year?

Our production of Apples.

Would you rather have a Birthday cake or a Birthday present?

Present – too many cakes makes Lucy a large lady!

40 Profiles: Jo Cundall, Participation and Programming Co-ordinator

As part of our 40th Birthday celebrations, you can explore what really goes on behind the scenes of a producing theatre as we profile 40 of our staff members throughout the year. From Box Office staff to backstage, you'll meet the people that keep Northern Stage running every day.

First up is Jo Cundall, Participation and Programming Co-ordinator.

What does your job involve?

Organising things! Project management for some of the work we do in schools and community settings, and liaising with the programming team about all the work that is on offer for our stages. I also manage our creative residencies programme, and am working on our site specific stage adaptation of Richard Milward's Apples, as well as it's 8 week national tour.

What is your favourite part of your job?

It's fun and always changing. Friday night drinks in the bar are always a good craic, and we do the best Christmas parties. But in terms of work, I love that as a company we take such pride in our participatory work, and place it alongside our produced and presented work.

What is your favourite part of the theatre?

The sofas in the corner of the foyer, and the hidden doorway and blacked out No Smoking sign that is halfway up the wall of Stage 2 - it really reminds you of what happened when we did the big refurbishment.

What are you most looking forward to in Northern Stage's birthday year?

Apples - both the site specific version at the Empire nightclub in Middlesbrough, and it's (no doubt) triumphant return to the North East in our Stage 2 space in September.

Would you rather have a Birthday cake or a Birthday present?

Present, every time. Unless the cake is made of cheese. Just to be clear, I mean Brie or Roquefort, not a cheesecake.