From left to right: Micaela Tuckwell, Vice Chair Joe Pilman, Chair Debbie Dance, Dr Jaskiran Kaur Bhogal, Deborah Richards, Ellie Claughton, and Adam Knight.

(l to r) Micaela Tuckwell, Vice Chair Joe Pilman, Chair Debbie Dance, Dr Jaskiran Kaur Bhogal, Deborah Richards, Ellie Claughton and Adam Knight.

Photo: Oxford Playhouse

Changing Faces

Oxford Playhouse welcomes new cohort of trustees

Arts Professional
2 min read

Oxford Playhouse has appointed seven new trustees to its board.

ADAM KNIGHT, ALBIE RAY, DEBBIE RICHARDS, ELLIE CLAUGHTON, GILL AITKEN, RD JASKIRAN KAUR and MICAELA TUCKWELL were recruited in an open process led by Chair DEBBIE DANCE and Vice Chair JOE PILMAN.

Currently, Chief Executive of Blackpool Grand Theatre, Knight has also managed Trafalgar Studios and Edinburgh Playhouse and has been Director at Grand Opera House Belfast, Sherman Theatre Cardiff, and Crewe Lyceum. 

With twenty years of experience in restaurant management, Ray is Home Bursar of Magdalen College and was previously Head of Hospitality at the Royal Opera House and held a similar role at the Barbican.

Recently moved to Oxford, Richards is an Oxford University alumna who began her career with Creation Theatre, before co-founding Baker Richards, a consultancy working with cultural organisations to develop their financial resilience.

Claughton is Executive Director of Improbable Theatre and Chair of Trustees at Zoo Co, having worked in touring theatre since 2016. 

A university-appointed trustee, Aitken became Registrar to the University of Oxford in 2018 following a career in Whitehall, latterly as General Counsel to Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs. 

Researching racialised minority communities in Britain, Dr Jaskiran Kaur Bhogal’s work includes the creation of anti-racism training and best practices on diversity and inclusion.

Finally, Tuckwell is the Executive Director of the Ultimate Picture Palace in Cowley and is a founding member of ROAR Festival, Oxford’s first disability arts festival.

MIKE TWEDDLE, Oxford Playhouse Artistic Director and CEO,  commented: “We are thrilled to have recruited such an inspirational group of trustees to Oxford Playhouse.

"Their wide-ranging experiences and perspectives will be invaluable as we develop our artistic ambition and reach, overcome the challenges facing our sector and create a Playhouse that feels welcoming to all.”