How did you start off in theatre?

As a child, I went to a local drama club and was signed by Sylvia Young’s agency. My career started at seven years old when I appeared in TV adverts and West End shows. I went on to study drama at A level with school trips to the theatre.

Going to the National Theatre for the first time to see Katie Mitchell’s production of Three Sisters was a turning point for me, experiencing the brilliance and craft of theatremaking.

What is your best advice for drama students and graduates today?

Each encounter you have in the sector, whether with a peer or someone established, is an opportunity. Use these to learn anything you can, and to grow a network. There are people that I still call on for advice and with whom I collaborate that I met when starting out.

What would you change about the industry if you could?

I believe that access to arts and culture is enriching on many levels and contributes to a healthy society. If I could change something, it would be financial investment in the arts to be embedded in society as a necessity.

What is the best part of your job?

It’s a privilege to lead the programming in a building with such a rich history. Shoreditch Town Hall has not only been a town hall but also a music hall and a home for the women’s suffrage movement, and has spent some time in disrepair. Now, it is a modern-day town hall where people celebrate culture, artists present experimental, responsive work and visitors see both large-scale and intimate performances.

I’d love for us to have a bigger team. We have a lot of ambition that can be challenging to realise with our capacity.

What is the one skill that every successful theatre professional should have?

Adaptability. No matter your role, things change constantly in this industry. Timelines can shift, funding falls through, ideas evolve. The ability to respond to change thoughtfully and creatively, without losing sight of your values, is essential.