Geese Theatre Company is one of the longest established and most influential arts in criminal justice organisations in the world.

Alison

Alison has worked as an organisational development practitioner for 20 years. She currently specialises in Executive Team and Board development, working with senior teams across the NHS, government departments, and not-for-profit. Her background prior to this was working in NGOs on human rights issues, including criminal justice.  She was previously on the Board of Pegasus, a youth theatre in Oxford.

“I am a strong believer in the power of the arts to help us see the world differently, build understanding and transform lives. I can see that in the daily work that Geese do – we need organisations like them in the world today. ”

 

Claire

Claire has worked in the HR profession since 1990 primarily in the private sector and most recently 7 years as HR Director at Birmingham Royal Ballet where she met Geese. Geese worked with her on bespoke safeguarding training.  She discovered the amazing work Geese do and when asked to join the board enthusiastically said yes. She also spent 15 years on the board of Young Gloucestershire.

“I am awed by the skills I see at Geese and inspired by the power that development through performance has.”

Clark

Clark works as a Senior Trainer in Psychodrama Psychotherapy. He writes books and teaches internationally about psychodrama, attachment theory, applied theatre and criminal justice treatment programmes. In 1987, he was the founding Director of Geese Theatre Company UK, having toured with the original Chicago-based Geese Theatre in the mid-1980s. He worked with Geese Theatre Company UK from 1987 – 1989 and 1992 – 2000 and joined the Board of Trustees in 2012.

“Being a former practitioner with the company, and now being on the Board of Trustees, is a great honour. It is a way of staying involved and continuing to promote the mission of the organisation. I am continually amazed and impressed with how the company develops, adapts and improves.” 

David

David joined the prison service with Unlocked Graduates. He worked as a prison officer at HMP Pentonville and HMP Swinfen Hall before taking up a senior policy role within HMPPS. Before that, he spent ten years working as an independent theatre practitioner. Having trained at the Jacques Lecoq International Theatre School in Paris, David toured original work for theatre to venues ranging from the Southbank Centre to Shanghai Contemporary Theatre Festival.

“Geese Theatre sets a gold standard for creative arts in prisons. Their work is a powerful reminder that, at the heart of all storytelling, is an invitation to see the world through another person’s eyes.”

Iain

Iain has been on the board for circa 20 years and has deep experience in helping businesses with finance and governance.

“Over the years Geese has evolved as a charity but the core delivery of thought-through, high quality and effective applied theatre continues to make change for people in the Criminal Justice environment.”

Kam

Kam has worked for over 20 years in the criminal justice system in a variety of prisons and more recently for HM Inspectorate of Prisons. He currently works as a Contract Manager overseeing service delivery in a privately operated prison. His career has provided him with considerable exposure and experience of areas such as governance, performance / project management and working collaboratively with others. He has been on the Board of Geese since 2018

“Whilst many of the scenarios are familiar to me, to see the way Geese involve the audience, take them on the journey with them and demonstrate the depth and breadth of human behaviour and thought, is truly enlightening and still makes everyday a learning day for me”

Kobina

Kobina works for East of England Probation. He came to the Midlands to train as a probation officer at Birmingham University where he achieved a post graduate DipSW and an MSocSc. Kobina joined West Midlands Probation Service as a probation officer in 1996 and worked in a Birmingham field team for four years before moving to a programmes unit where he stayed for three years. During this period he became an accredited programmes tutor and trainer.

In 2014 he graduated from the Common Purpose Meridian Leadership Development Programme and was appointed to our board in October of that year. Previously, Kobina headed up Walsall and Coventry Local Delivery Units before the creation of the Community Rehabilitation Company. He was also the District Manager for Community Payback for five years and this followed a short period as a Senior Probation Officer in a high risk of harm team based in Handsworth, Birmingham. His career in management has given him experience of building staff capacity, governance, partnership and relationship management, in addition to leading performance improvement.

“I experienced the power of Geese’s work more than twenty years ago when I was a recently qualified probation officer and the wonder of it has not left me. It was and still is amazing. Who wouldn’t want to play a part in supporting Geese to enable change in the special way that it does?”

Laura

Laura has worked for the Probation Service for over twenty years in various roles.  She started on the frontline working with people on probation before moving into delivery of training and evidence-based practice. In more recent years she has worked in headquarters of HMPPS in practice and policy roles and currently is the Head of Community Improvement. Laura discovered Geese when working on a project to deliver staff training on domestic homicide across HMPSS and has followed and championed them ever since.

“The impact of Geese is that no one forgets their performances and work, and this means the messages and learning embed in people’s consciousness and can represent a catalyst for change”

Pippa

Pippa is an award-winning Producer based in Birmingham. She is Executive Producer for international festival Fierce. She is a member of Area Council for Arts Council England. Her freelance practice primarily focuses on theatre, but she has also worked in live art, dance, music, spoken word and circus. She likes work that sits on the boundaries, and challenges preconceptions about the world around us. She has worked with a wide range artists to develop and tour new work, including Francesca Millican-Slater, Stephanie Ridings, Benji Reid, Babakas, Mohammed Ali, Phoebe Brown and more.

She was previously Co-Director for well-loved regional work-in-progress platform PILOT Nights and has been a visiting lecturer at the University of Birmingham, Birmingham City University, Worcester University and more. 

“I am fiercely proud of the incredible work Geese do, and the deep and valuable impact they make on people’s lives constantly. They are a crucial part of the sector” 

Andrea

Andrea joined Geese in 2013, having previously worked in women’s support services. As Participation and Inclusion Manager she is responsible for overseeing referrals and safe guarding issues for community projects.

“I am passionate about creating safe and supportive spaces where diverse groups of people can thrive.”

Andy

Andy trained in Paris at the Lecoq School of Mime and Physical Theatre, joining Geese in 1997, and becoming Artistic Director / CEO in 2003.  He was appointed MBE in the 2018 New Year Honours List for Services to the Arts in the Criminal Justice System.

“Our work is all about providing safe spaces in often unsafe places.  I love witnessing people grab the opportunity to play and practise new versions of themselves and the profound impact that this work can have on people’s lives.”

Becky

Before joining Geese in 2022, Becky worked as an actor and facilitator with numerous applied theatre companies and theatre for social change organisations in London and throughout the UK.

“I am thrilled to have joined Geese and to be a part of a team that delivers challenging and playful work. I can combine my belief in theatre for social change and love of performing, what could be better?”

Daniel

Daniel has worked in theatre since graduating from East15 Acting School in 2009. He spent the first 4 years of his career in London working for theatres such as The Almeida, The Old Vic, Theatre Peckham and GLYPT. In 2013 he moved to Birmingham to work for Geese Theatre Company and hasn’t looked back.

“I live for those golden moments of facilitation: where you can sit back as a practitioner and watch a group unravel problems, have meaningful discussions, and respectfully challenge each other.”

Dave

Dave has been an actor groupworker at Geese since 2012; it was working creatively in prisons that drew him to the role. He has developed a career at Geese delivering the full repertoire of work and loves how different the role can be day to day.

“Even though I’ve worked at Geese for 10 years, I still find the job challenging. While it’s hard to pick a favourite part of my role, the performances in prison still get my adrenaline pumping.”

Liz A

Liz has worked extensively in both subsidised and commercial theatre, with roles at venues including the Donmar Warehouse and the King’s Head Theatre, and at Playful Productions. She joined Geese as General Manager in June 2018 and became Director of Finance and Operations and a member of Geese’s SMT in 2021.

“Working at Geese is something I want to shout about! I feel very fortunate to have the opportunity to play a part in facilitating the incredible work Geese practitioners deliver.”

Liz B

Liz’s background is in youth theatre, touring community theatre and TIE. In 2013 she joined Geese as an actor/groupworker. Her role includes project management, facilitation and training, as well as acting in Geese performances.

“I work in society’s hidden places and get to explore life alongside those that are often forgotten. It’s a privilege to create a space to play, challenge and encourage people in their journeys.”

Lou

Lou joined Geese in 1991 and is now Director of Programmes with responsibility for much of the company’s current output and for training, internally and externally. She is the company’s most experienced performer, director, writer and group worker and she takes a lead role in creating interactive performances. Lou is a member of the company’s SMT.

“I’m very proud of being a part of Geese’s history. I’ve been here a while so I must quite like it!”

Ros

Ros has worked in arts fundraising and development since 2008 and been with Geese since 2014. She manages our relationships with grant making trusts and foundations, and our membership of the Arts Council England National Portfolio. She also looks after our funded partnership projects and is part of the SMT.

“I love sharing the stories of Geese; the impact our work has on people and organisations is an incredible tale to tell.”