What are the benefits from building welcoming spaces for our current audiences and those who might not consider themselves as audiences quite yet?

In Session Two of Spotlight, a new learning and development series of online talks with professionals within the network, we’ll be exploring the approaches taken by New Wolsey Theatre in Ipswich and South Street Arts in Reading in to creating and maintaining inclusive and welcoming venues.

Join Sally Jones (Theatre Manager of New Wolsey Theatre) and John Luther (Artistic Director of South Street Arts Centre) as they share their advice and experience on building inclusive working practises and culture in their venues and its impact on audiences.

Panellists

Sally Jones
Theatre Manager at New Wolsey Theatre

Sally started her career as a Stage Manager working in Regional rep, National and International Touring, and London’s West End.

After a brief flirtation with Theatrical Casting and Comedy Promotion, Sally spent some years as a TV Producer predominantly working in light entertainment. She returned to her Suffolk roots to raise a family and, having been absent from theatre for many years, now finds herself back at the New Wolsey where it all began. As Theatre Manager Sally is responsible for all programmed work and leads on Access across the building. She sits on the Inclusivity and Relevance task group and is responsible for the wellbeing of everyone who comes through the theatre including visiting companies, cast and creatives of the New Wolsey Theatre’s own produced work and also oversees the standards of audience experience.

John Luther
Artistic Director of South Street Arts Centre

John has been the Artistic Director of South Street Arts Centre in Reading since 2003, developing the venue into one of the UKs most respected small-scale touring spaces.

Not knowing that "programming" could be a job, John started his career booking bands and comedians for The North Pole in Winchester, an Arts Cafe / venue which he set up with fellow graduates of Winchester University. From there he went on to Harrow Arts Centre as programming manager before arriving in Reading.