News Story
Lichfield Garrick Theatre Welcomes a New Chair and Four New Trustees
Lichfield Garrick Theatre is delighted to announce the appointment of David Hill as the charity’s new Chair and to welcome four new trustees to the board. Denise Baker, Amanda Grace, Nana Panti-Amoa and Sharon Taylor join the charity’s existing trustees: David Hill (Chair), Natalie Haslam, Josh Beaumont, Sophie Price, Emma Ryan, Beth Shouler and Deb Baker, volunteering their time and expertise to support the venue. These new appointments come at an exciting time for the Garrick, with audience numbers breaking records, the venue’s community engagement programme continuing to expand and a major front-of-house refurbishment project about to take place.
Chief Executive & Artistic Director, Daniel Buckroyd, says:
The vitality and relevance of an arts charity like the Garrick is built upon the partnership between its staff and its volunteer Trustees, so we’re incredibly lucky to have such a talented, committed, diverse group of new Trustees joining our Board at this exciting time of growth. With David Hill’s leadership as Chair and the continued insightful input of our new and existing Board members, I’m confident that the Garrick can continue to flourish and provide creative and cultural opportunities for all of the communities that it serves in Lichfield and beyond.
New Chair, David Hill, has enjoyed a long career in the arts, including being the first Marketing Director at Birmingham Hippodrome, Artistic Director of Theatre Station Blyth, Northumberland (now Headway Arts), Associate Director at The Everyman Theatre in Cheltenham and Founding Director of ArtReach, international cultural consultants and arts festival producers. He has been Vice Chair of producing theatre, Curve, in Leicester and Chair of Theatre Royal Winchester and Hat Fair. He is a published writer of short stories, plays and a retrospective of the work of ArtReach.
Denise Baker is Pro Vice Chancellor & Dean at the University of Derby. She has been involved in the creative arts all her adult life and describes theatre as one of her most loyal friends. Following the occasional school play, Denise was active in amateur theatre in Redditch, Worcestershire before moving to Lichfield in 2000. As a member of Lichfield Players, Denise has performed at the Garrick Theatre many times, including with her son and daughter. Denise is passionate about supporting the local community to engage with, learn from and enjoy opportunities provided by the theatre in the region.
Amanda Grace is a Director in a major Financial Services firm. She has lived in Lichfield for over 20 years and attended the opening of the Garrick Theatre in 2003. She recalls the ‘buzz of excitement’ on the very first night, and through the years that have followed she has enjoyed many happy times at the Garrick with family and friends, so is thrilled to have been appointed as a trustee. She is looking forward to the opportunity to combine her passion for live performance and her business skills, working with her fellow Trustees and the management team to support the theatre’s continued success.
Nana Panti-Amoa works as a Talent Acquisition Manager within a major legal firm. She has always had a strong interest in the performing arts and after being involved with several dance and musical groups in her youth, she went on to study Managing Performance at The University of Leeds and started her career in Events and Stage Management. The performing arts have not only bolstered her self-esteem but also afforded her the privilege of performing before royalty and on international stages. Now, over a decade later, she has transitioned into the corporate world, but remains passionate about the arts and strongly believes it has a unique power to influence and unite individuals and communities. As a Lichfield resident, she is keen to give back to her local community and give voice to the diverse communities within the area.
Sharon Taylor works as a Brand, PR & Marketing Manager and also serves as a Councillor on both Lichfield District Council and Burntwood Town Council. She has a strong bond with the theatre in Lichfield, having been a regular at the Lichfield Youth Theatre in her teenage years, which inspired her to pursue professional training in the performing arts. Although her professional journey has taken her in a different direction, Sharon’s love and support for all things performing arts and her commitment to the community remain unwavering. She is looking forward to supporting the promotion of the Garrick to the broader community, fostering a stronger bond between the theatre and the many communities it serves and fostering equality, diversity and inclusion in everything it does.
New Chair, David Hill, says:
I’m delighted to have been appointed as Chair of the Garrick, as we embark on the next exciting stage of development for this popular and important theatre venue. A relatively new board brings a terrific range of skills and experience, alongside a dynamic and committed approach. We are thrilled to welcome our four new Trustees, who will help us ensure we have the right mix of local, business and artistic expertise to ensure we can provide appropriate support to our outstanding officer team. The future looks bright!
