Staff & Governance An engaged and experienced staff
Black and white photo of a director speaking to two acting students in front of a theatre set

About Us

Staff & Governance

A wealth of experience

Bristol Old Vic Theatre School is proud of its engaged, experienced, industry-leading staff members.

View current staff vacancies

Executive Leadership Team

Fiona Francombe Principal and Chief Executive Officer
Ali de Souza Director of Drama
Stuart Harvey Director of Studies
Brian Frost Finance Director (interim)

Acting core staff

Paul Chesterton Director of Acting Courses
Geoffrey Brumlik Senior Acting Tutor and Head of MFA Acting Course
Carol Fairlamb Head of Voice and Head of MFA Voice Studies Course
Sue Cowen Senior Voice and Dialect Tutor
Joe Leat Voice and Acting Tutor
Em Smith Lead Acting Tutor
Jonathan Grosberg Head of Music and Singing
Vince Pellegrino Head of MA Screen Acting Course
Jonathan Howell Head of Movement and Stage Combat
Clare Fox Dance Tutor
Joêl Daniel Movement Tutor

Production core staff

Steve O’Brien Head of Production
Ruth Sidery Theatre Production Administrator

Jade Trendall Technical Courses Leader
Joe Stathers Lighting and Video Projection Tutor
Bryony Rutter Stage Management Tutor
Lisa D’arcy Stage Management Tutor
Frank Bradley
Sound Tutor
Meriel Pym Scenic Crafts Tutor

Andy Scrivens Head of Scenic Construction

Andy Jenks Audio and Film Tutor
Charlie Parkin Post Production Tutor, Coordinator and Editor
Charlie Flack Audio Visual Tutor and Technician
Bianca Bewley Film Line Producer (and Courses Coordinator) 

Jill Blundell Head of Costume
Ali Poynter Costume Tutor
Lois Edmunds Costume Making Tutor
Lynn Donoghue Costume Making Tutor

Angela Davies Head of Design
Bronia Housman Design Tutor

Writing and Directing core staff

David Lane Head of Drama Writing
Nik Partridge Head of Drama Directing

Professional services staff

Student and Academic Services, Admissions and Administration
Stuart Harvey Director of Studies
Julia Heeley Higher Education Administration & Student Support Manager
Cherry Khoo Student Support Administrator
Marchia Abokie Admissions Manager
Michael Tew Admissions & Short Courses Administrator
Bianca Bewley Courses Coordinator (and Film Line Producer)
Ruth Sidery Theatre Production Administrator
Stephanie Lawrence Executive Assistant

Finance
Brian Frost Finance Director (interim)
Jackie Gait Finance Officer
Sharon Willshear Finance Assistant

Marketing and Student Recruitment 
Matt Carmichael Marketing and Student Recruitment Manager
Kate Chaffey Marketing and Communications Officer
Sanjana Suresh Kumar Marketing Officer (Courses)
Rachel Holman Marketing Assistant

Head of Non-Degree Studies
Faye Elvin

Premises and Reception
Darren Frost Premises Assistant
Fiona Reed Head Receptionist

For details of visiting professional services staff, including in student support, counselling, and health and safety, please consult the guide to student support.

Graduate Sahir Mehta
As soon as I visited the School, I fell in love with the place. Perhaps it sounds a bit irrational, but sometimes you get a vibe - and you just know! BOVTS gave me all the tools I needed to prepare for a career as an actor. Sahir Mehta, MA Professional Acting, 2018