A new board of trustees has been appointed at Theatr Brycheiniog after an open public selection process.
The twelve are: Gary Blackledge, Riki Stewart, Tim Davenport, Rachel Dominy, Karen Griffiths, Elizabeth Jeffreys, Andrew Leonard, Mary Phillips, Katy Sinnadurai, Councillor Gareth Ratcliffe, Councillor Melanie Davies and Councillor David Meredith.
Rachel Podger and Michael Bogdanov are new patrons.
Gary Blackledge
Before retiring, I worked for Powys County Council as a Housing Maintenance officer for Brecon and District areas. I have also been a voluntary steward and senior steward with Theatr Brycheiniog since it opened in 1997.
Riki Stewart
I am aged 46 and married with twins, one boy and 1 girl aged 10. I am a qualified ACCA Accountant
with over 20 years experience in Senior Financial and Project Management roles - companies
include BT, Orange, ons, EDF Energy, RAF, DOE, Arriva and Texaco. I currently work as a consultant
for Guy’s and St. Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust and share my time between Swansea and London. I
also run my own property development business including Planning, Renovations and Investments.
My main interests are sport, cinema, live events and travel.
Tim Davenport
I am a 63 year old solicitor in private practice. I act for the Church in Wales and as such specialise in Charity Law. I am Vice-Chairman of the HR Committee of the Church in Wales. I was former Chairman of the Wales Theatre Company, former member of the committee of Glamorgan County Cricket Club, former President of Brecon Cricket Club and I am a member of Brecon Little Theatre.
Rachel Dominy
I've been working in the performing arts for more than 20 years - starting off my career at Glyndebourne in the early 90s where I stayed for 7 years and ending up running community and outreach projects. A short spell at Arts Council England was followed by administrative/ director roles at Garsington Opera and Arundel Festival and some freelance project and company management at Opera Holland Park in London, Aldeburgh and for an opera festival in Italy. The last 10 years have been spent in Wales: I was general manager at Music Theatre Wales for 5 years - which is when I first encountered Theatr Brycheiniog, where we launched a number of co-productions - and now I am executived Director of Mid Wales Opera, touring regularly into TB. I moved to the area some 7 years ago (living between Crickhowell and Abergavenny) and I am an active member of Crickhowell Choral Society and the Unicorn Singers of Llangattock. I love this part of the world and really believe TB plays a crucial role within this community - as well as within the wider arts community of Wales. I look forward to being a part of the team!
Karen Griffiths
I’ve lived in Brecon town for 9-years. Originally I’m from Newport, but before moving to the area I had worked in and around the Brecon and Mid Wales. I’ve spent over 30 years working in the energy sector, the last 12 of which has been with the Carbon Trust. In Wales, the activities of the Carbon Trust are funded by the Welsh Government and my work involves working with private and public sector organisations to reduce carbon emissions and to help them engage with the issues and opportunities of a low carbon economy and a changing climate. Outside work, my time is spent walking, gardening and being a theatre enthusiast regularly visiting London, Bristol, Bath and Cardiff.
Elizabeth Jeffreys
I was born in Aberystwyth and my family still lives there. Until I retired to Brecon in 2004, my 30-year career in the tourism industry was first in North Staffordshire, and latterly I was CEO of tourism organisations in Manchester and Jersey. Earlier in my career I worked for 2 years as the publicity manager for the Victoria Theatre, Newcastle-under-Lyme. On returning to Wales, I quickly became involved in a range of community organisations in the Brecon Beacons. These include Brecknock Decorative & Fine Arts Society, Brecon U3A and the George Melly Sculpture Appeal. I was vice-chair/director of Brecon Jazz from 2006 to 2008 and Chair of Brecon Beacons Tourism from 2006 to 2013. I am currently chair of the Brecon Beacons Marketing Coordination Group and a Member of the Cultural Tourism Partnership – Visit Wales. I am passionate about the important role that Theatr Brycheiniog plays in the cultural life of Brecon, the Brecon Beacons and South Powys and look forward to working with fellow trustees to ensure that it has a successful and sustainable future.
Andrew Leonard
I am a Llanfihangel-Nant-Bran sheep farmer. I am also an independent member of Powys teaching Health Board, Chair of Elan Valley Trust and a trustee of Theatr Brycheiniog (and its forerunner, Brecon Guildhall Theatre, since 1996).
Mary Phillips
I have been involved in community arts for over thirty years. Having worked with young people in the community I had the honour of representing them on the working group set up over twenty years ago to replace Brecon Guild Hall with our own community theatre. I have been an active member of the present board for the sixteen years. I retired as retail and marketing manager of the local farmers co-operative Hay and Brecon Farmers eighteen months ago. Whilst employed I grew the business from two million to six million turnover and was responsible for preparing budgets, cash flow, purchasing products, sales and marketing activity and staff training. Since retiring I have set up my own sales and marketing company.
I am very experienced in Community Amateur Dramatics and helped the theatre to form its own in house Musical Company and successfully directed Oklahoma, My Fair Lady and recently Oliver.
As town councillor I represent the Town Council on Brecon Jazz Stakeholders Group and
serve on the board for The Regeneration of Brecon.
Katy Sinnadurai
Katy Sinnadurai is a former professional ballet dancer with experience of dancing in both a residential company (Bavarian State Ballet) and a touring company (London City Ballet). She is a qualified fitness coach, Pilates Instructor, Ballet teacher and choreographer. She currently teaches around 20 classes per week in Brecon including her roles as Ballet Mistress of Mid Wales Dance Academy, choreographer for local groups such as Westenders and Brecon High School, Back Care/Body Conditioning Instructor and Personal Trainer. Katy teaches classes in Theatr Brycheiniog four days a week, providing a good link with many of the building's regular customers.
Councillor Gareth Ratcliffe
Powys County Council representative. Electoral Division: Hay. Shire: Brecknockshire
Community Councils: Hay.
Councillor Melanie Davies
Powys County Council representative. Electoral Division: Llangors. Shire: Brecknockshire. Community Councils: Llangors
Councillor David Meredith
Powys County Council representative. Electoral Division: St. David Within. Shire: Brecknockshire
Community Councils: Brecon
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