PRESS RELEASE – Wednesday 03 July 2019
JANA BENNETT APPOINTED TO BOARD OF ACCLAIMED THEATRE COMPANY HEADLONG
Headlong, one of the most ambitious and exciting theatre companies in the UK, has today announced that Jana Bennett OBE has been selected to join its board of trustees.
Jana is a highly experienced Media Executive who previously led the BBC’s television service and went on to head the international channels for the BBC’s commercial arm, BBC Worldwide. Jana is currently a non-executive director on the Board of Pew Research Center, the Washington based non-partisan fact tank; and a Senior Advisor and Executive-at-Large for Ozy Media. She has also served as a Governor of the Royal Shakespeare Company (2006- 2016); a Trustee of The Natural History Museum (1996-2001); a Trustee of Comic Relief, and is a Fellow of the Royal Television Society and the Royal Geographical Society.
She joins recently appointed board members Trevor Phillips OBE, Prasanna Puwanarajah, Cas Donald, Sarah Ellis and Jacqueline Hurt, alongside existing members Richard Huntrods, Nicky Jones, Donna Munday, Lesley Wan, Maggie Whitlum and Chair Robin Paxton.
Trevor Phillips OBE is a writer and television producer. He is the co-founder of the data analytics consultancy Webber Phillips, and Chairman of Green Park Interim and Executive Search. He is the Chairman of the global freedom of expression campaign charity Index on Censorship; a Senior Fellow at the Policy Exchange think tank; and a Vice- President of the Royal Television Society. He was the President of the John Lewis Partnership Council until 2018, and founding chair of the Equality and Human Rights Commission.
Prasanna Puwanarajah is a director, writer, actor. He trained as a medical doctor. He is currently Associate Artist at Wilton’s Music Hall, serves on the Boards of the National Youth Theatre and The Criterion Theatre Trust, and is a Patron of The Theatrical Guild. Most recently Prasanna directed Venice Preserved at the RSC’s Swan Theatre.
Cas Donald is a philanthropist with in-depth experience of subsidised theatre management. Cas also serves on The Royal Court Development Board.
Sarah Ellis is an award-winning producer currently working as Director of Digital Development for the Royal Shakespeare Company exploring new artistic initiatives and partnerships. She is a regular speaker and commentator on digital arts practice.
Jacqueline Hurt is a highly experienced entertainment lawyer, and is currently a Partner in the Film, TV and Broadcasting Groups at Sheridans. Her practice specialises in all aspects of production, financing and distribution of films and television programmes.
Robin Paxton, Chair of Headlong’s Board of Trustees said: “Headlong has gone from strength to strength in terms of artistic and organisational scale in recent years, and I’m delighted that we have also been able to add to the strength, experience and diversity of our governance and leadership by bringing Jana and other such distinguished names to our board to support our ambitions of further development and success.”
Jeremy Herrin, Artistic Director and Alan Stacey, Executive Director said: “It’s a real boon for us to have such talented people from the summit of the media and entertainment industries joining the board. We couldn’t achieve our ambitious goals without the support and guidance of all of our exceptional trustees.”
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NOTES TO EDITORS
Headlong Headlong is one of the most ambitious and exciting theatre companies in the UK, creating exhilarating contemporary theatre: a provocative mix of innovative new writing, reimagined classics and influential 20th century plays that illuminate our world. Headlong make bold, ground-breaking productions with some of the UK’s finest artists. We take these industry-leading, award-winning shows around the country and beyond, in theatres and online, attracting new audiences of all ages and backgrounds. We engage as deeply as we can with these communities and this helps us become better at what we do. In 2019 Headlong’s revealing new production of Richard III toured the UK with Tom Mothersdale playing the iconic villain, while Cordelia Lynn’s vital exploration of motherhood, power and sabotage, Hedda Tesman, plays at Chichester Festival Theatre and The Lowry.
Additional Biographies
Robin Paxton Robin is Chairman of Headlong Theatre’s board. Following a career in television production and broadcasting in the UK, Europe and Asia, Robin serves as trustee of ITV Pension Scheme and Chairman of Tourettes Action.
Donna Munday Donna is an Executive Producer and Arts Management Consultant currently working on Death of a Salesman, The Prince of Egypt, and The King and I amongst other projects. Previously, Donna was Executive Producer for Sonia Friedman Productions and Executive Producer for Working Title Films’ theatre division for Billy Elliot the Musical.
Nicky Jones In 20 years of fundraising, Nicky has secured government, corporate and philanthropic support for many different organisations, mainly in the cultural, heritage and environment sectors. In her most recent role at the RSC she was responsible for securing funding for three capital projects alongside 70% of revenue fundraising income annually. Nicky is a Fellow for the Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce.
Maggie Whitlum Maggie is an experienced arts manager with more than 30 years of senior management in a succession of prestigious UK arts organisations, including the National Theatre, the Royal Shakespeare Company, and the Royal Exchange Theatre.
Richard Huntrods Richard is Director of Audience Insight and Research at AKA Promotions. Previously, Richard was Head of Sales and Marketing at Chichester Festival Theatre.
Lesley Wan Lesley is General Counsel at FBN Bank (UK) Limited. She was previously Corporate Real Estate Counsel for Lloyds Banking Group and is CEO and Founder of Through the Looking Glass Charity and Founder and President of the Eagle Club.