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.