Our Trustees
Katie Scott
Festival Director
Katie has worked in the arts and cultural sector throughout her career. She has held a variety of producing, marketing and fundraising roles since establishing an open-air touring theatre company upon graduating many moons ago.
She also spent time as a local authority Arts Development Officer and served on the board of the National Rural Touring Forum. Most recently she held the role of Senior Creative Producer at Rural Arts.
As a fundraiser, she enjoyed 4 years at Lichfield Festival and 2 years at Birmingham International Dance Festival.
Simon Hewitt
Simon’s career as a senior civil servant included senior roles in HR, finance, project management and procurement.
Now retired, his many voluntary roles include being a Director of Ripon Together CIC and a trustee of the Ripon Chapels and Hospitals Charitable Trusts. He is also stage manager of the Ripon pantomime society, part of the Ripon Live Music team and part of the St Wilfrid’s Procession team.
He has recent experience of events management, from planning and promotion to event logistics and risk assessments.
Tina Salden
Tina has enjoyed a career in HR; managing teams and leading projects within the manufacturing, finance and retail sectors.
She has also undertaken a number of volunteering and fundraising roles including School Governor, Chair of Friends of the School and for various charitable organisations, the main being Dementia Forward.
She was awarded the Queens Award for Voluntary Service in 2021.
Julia Whitham
After 14 years in sales and advertising, Julia relocated twice, eventually to North Yorkshire where she and her husband bought a small ready meal factory and reinvented themselves.
Spending 20 years nursing the business back to life, Julia increased her skill set significantly to include some technical and HR responsibility whilst continuing to develop new business.
Julia has also sung in Ripon Choral Society for 15 years, been a highly active PA committee member at several schools, and been a busy and successful fundraiser.
Festival Team
Hannah Munro
Hannah joined the arts and cultural sector in 2019, following a rewarding first career as a primary school teacher. Most recently, she has worked in a diverse range of arts organisations such as Theatre Hullabaloo, Rural Arts and Stellar Creates CIC doing everything from delivering world-class children’s theatre and rural touring to large scale outdoor light trails.
Alongside the day jobs Hannah acts as Assistant Director and Administrator for Out of Character Theatre Company, where she can occasionally be found ‘treading the boards’ herself!
Kay Bartlett
A keen singer, actor, dancer and musician growing up, Kay went on to study Related Arts and Dance at university.
After working as a freelance dance teacher and choreographer, she completed her Post Graduate Certificate in Education and taught Dance and Performing Arts in schools.
After relocating many times with her husband’s work whilst raising her family, Kay has settled in Ripon and has recently taught pre-school music lessons. She is a member of Ripon Amateur Operatics Society.
Sue Bishop
Born a Southerner, albeit with Yorkshire heritage, Sue remedied this by studying drama in Hull. After working in stage management in London Fringe Theatres and Floor Management at the BBC, she ended up in Belfast where she moved into teaching, finally working as a Learning Support Coordinator in Integrated Education.
Returning to England in 2016 and moving to Ripon in 2020, she now works as a gardener, but her passion is still in events. She is the Steward Coordinator for the FolkEast Festival in Suffolk and returns to Belfast annually to work on the Festival of Fools.
Kate Sharpe
Following a career as a Veterinary Surgeon, then a government vet and senior manager in the civil service, Kate now has time on her hands to contribute to some wider creative and community work moving her focus from animals to people.
She is a member of Ripon Together and contributes to the wider cultural aspects of Ripon. She plays violin in the Ripon Community Orchestra and the Wilfrid’s Folk Group which she also helps to run.
She has recently taken on a role with Ripon Live Music and enjoys encouraging people to listen to and perform live music of all genres.
She is also involved in Refugee support and leads a community sponsorship group in Ripon for recently resettled families.
Charlie Studdy
Following a near-lifetime career in arts and venue management, Charlie recently took early retirement and moved to Ripon. As Arts & Leisure Manager for Goole Town Council he spearheaded the creation of Junction, a multi-award winning £4M arts facility for the town with a busy programme of live events, community arts activities and cinema which he ran successfully for 12 years.
Previous lives include running what was then the biggest comedy club outside London, Fools Paradise at Sheffield City Hall. With spells at The Old Town Hall arts centre in Hemel Hempstead and as administrator for the theatre in education company, Theatre of Fact, Charlie brings a huge range of experience to the Theatre Festival team and is keen to make a positive contribution to the arts in his new home city.
Jane Basey
As a consequence of moving house frequently (including time in the USA), Jane has undertaken various volunteering roles over the years depending on the family’s location at the time. Her roles have included: Community Service Volunteers (Chair), Primary School Parent Teacher Association (Chair), Citizens Advice (Helpline worker), supporting Guiding and Scouting groups, running small events to raise awareness of issues at the time e.g. a meningitis outbreak and most recently Vaccinator during the Covid pandemic.
Jane has recently retired following a career in nursing both as a clinician and a Clinical Operational Manager within Children’s Services.
Now settled in Ripon with her husband she is settling into the community with new hobbies and volunteering endeavours.
Chris Scott
Chris has run an IT software and consulting company since 1996 and wears many different hats.
He is a keen supporter of the Arts, and has made many trips to Edinburgh Fringe since 1991.
He has been an active member of Ripon Charity Pantomine Group since moving to Ripon, behind the scenes, as a performer and as a director/producer.
He is also a Trustee of RAOS Musical Theatre Company, acting as the Treasurer.
Chris looks after the website and the various IT needs for Ripon Theatre Festival, acts as a venue manager during the festival week, while trying to see as many acts and shows as possible.
Mike Spurgeon
Mike has an extensive and diverse background in events and stage production. His journey began approximately 12 years ago when his daughter encouraged him to audition for the Ripon Charity Pantomime Group. This experience sparked his interest in stage design, leading him to take on the construction of various staging elements and props for numerous productions.
In recent years, Mike has deepened his commitment to stage management and construction, taking on the role of stage manager for the Ripon Pantomime Society. His practical skills are complemented by a strong creative flair, making him a valuable asset in the realm of theatrical production.
Daivd Ingham
David has spent most of his life living and working around Ripon. With a career in the building trade, he is now a surveyor working with older and traditional properties across the region.
He is a director of Ripon Together and a keen supporter of its aim of bringing people together to make Ripon a friendly and thriving place to live and a welcoming place to visit. He has helped organise and run events such as Summer FunFest and the Green Fairs.
David says “Arts, music, drama and comedy need to be supported from the ground up, and be accessible to all”.
In Memoriam
Ian Holloway
The Ripon Theatre Festival was first proposed by Ian Holloway, who wished to bring the City alive with a mix of community and professional theatre performances. Ian was a performer, director and writer who loved theatre and comedy, and who wanted to provide the opportunity for new and old shows to be performed to, and enjoyed by, new audiences.
We continue the festival in his memory, hoping to emulate his passion and create a truly inspiring festival for everyone.
