A letter of support for Catherine Wheels Theatre Company from the Scottish Production Community

A letter of support for Catherine Wheels Theatre Company from the Scottish Production Community:


Dear Ms Archer

Re: Non-Renewal of Regular Funding for Catherine Wheels Theatre Company

The community of Technicians and Theatre Production Staff across Scotland want to urge a
reconsideration of the decision to cut funding for Catherine Wheels Theatre Company.
The potential loss of employment, vital network and support system is too important for us not to
comment.
The technical community in Scotland is largely comprised of freelancers, working across a wide
range of companies across the whole theatre sector. It is from this position that we feel equipped to
highlight what we and the Scottish cultural sector stand to lose, should Catherine Wheels close in its
present form.
As a prolific creator of touring productions, the Company employ a range of technical staff and offer
significant employment opportunities to many of us. The Company’s place within the technical
community extends well beyond this: Catherine Wheels’ vast experience of touring nationally and
internationally means they are ideally placed to advise and support others. They are a renowned
and generous first port of call and a constant, well-researched resource in matters of legislation,
best practice in human resources and logistics, including the many international variances.
The knock-on effect of Catherine Wheels’ practice and ethos is wide; they embody the very spirit of
what we in the wider arts community need from a regularly funded organisation, by acknowledging
their privilege, and supporting and sharing all they have with the wider network.
Uncomplaining, hard-working and sincere in their dedication to the sector, they have provided
opportunities unavailable in other companies, including placements and mentoring of technical
theatre staff; an unofficial and never judgemental “helpline” for advice or just a good discussion.
This is all due to the genuinely committed attitude of the Company, who in turn can offer this largely
due to long-term, planned spending and funding, and all the kinds of careful investment which can
therefore ensue.
Those of us who have worked with Catherine Wheels take the valuable lessons we have learned with
the Company into our future contracts. Its role as a positive influencer and benchmark of good
practice across the sector cannot be underestimated.

Catherine Wheels actively strives to ameliorate not only conditions, but also production values,
raising the standard in quality, expectations and satisfaction; importantly this clearly extends to
audiences, and to visits abroad, where we bear witness (with pride) to their high regard on the
global Children’s Theatre stage.

Reliable funding makes all of this possible, and improves quality and standards across an
unimaginable range. We strongly urge you to reconsider the decision to remove regular funding
from the crucial part of our network: the creative, reliable and multi-faceted, excellent Catherine
Wheels.

Sian Mitchell MacGregor, Production Manager & mum of 2 Catherine Wheels veterans
siangus@hotmail.com

Emma Skaer, Freelance Stage Manager
emmaskaer@googlemail.com

On behalf of the below 80 signed members of the Theatre Production Community in Scotland:
Fi Fraser, Production Manager & mum to inspired young (3yr old) theatre goer
Lauren Roberts, Freelance Stage Manager
Zoë Squair, Freelance Producer and Production Manager
Suzie Normand, Production Manager at Red Bridge Arts:
“The knowledge and experience that I have gained over the years, by working with Catherine
Wheels has been immense. I had a very bittersweet departure from the company only last
month, but it was with the encouragement and support from them, that I took the next rung
up to Production Manager. This is the encouragement, knowledge and support that I know
they are giving to many others in the industry. They are the Encyclopaedia of Children’s
Theatre - to lose this would be a travesty.”
Matt Padden, Freelance Sound Designer & Engineer
Craig McNeill, Technical Stage Manager
Laura Hawkins, Lighting Designer and Technical Manager:
“Without Catherine Wheels we’ll all be far worse off. They are unparalleled in their generosity
in sharing their wealth of knowledge and experience and of supporting smaller companies and
artists not only with their generosity of their time but also in the lending of equipment, which
makes a lot of what we do possible. It’s madness.”
Paul Ancell, Senior Technical Officer, Renfrewshire Leisure
Nick Millar, Production Manager
Garry Boyle, Sound Designer
Jon Meggat, Freelance Technician
Lizzie Powell, Freelance Lighting Designer and proudly on 3, about to be 4 shows for CW
Ritchie Young, Head of Sound, Perth Theatre
Zoe Laura King, Assistant Stage Manager, Lyceum Theatre
Kate Hall, Chief Electrician/Freelance Lighting Technician
Claire Williamson, Deputy Stage Manager, Lyceum Theatre
Martin Vivers, Chief Technician, Eastwood Park Theatre
Fee Dalgleish, Deputy Head of Lighting, Perth Theatre
Mark Hughes, Senior Technician
Michael Heasman, Deputy Head of Stage, Horsecross Arts Ltd
Mike Hall, Technical Manager/Freelance Stage Technician
Siobhán Scott, Freelance Stage Manager
Annie Winton, Freelance Stage Management
Niamh O’Meara, Props Technician
Mike Sumner, Audio Project Manager
Alison Brodie, Stage Manager
Deanne Jones, Stage Manager
Jonny Reed, Freelance Lighting Technician and Stage Manager
Sergey Jakovsky, Freelance Lighting Designer:
“Catherine Wheels is one of the most professional companies I have had a pleasure working
with. With very high standards in quality, creative originality and production values, Catherine
Wheels is an essential asset to Scottish Theatre & Arts portfolio. It would be highly
disappointing if Creative Scotland was indeed to discontinue it’s regular support of the
company, thus compromising Catherine Wheels existence.”
Kirsty Milroy Glover, Scenic Artist
Gemma Turner, Stage Manager
James Gardner, Lighting Technician
Natasha Lee-Walsh, Freelance Producer & Project Manager
Caroline Doney, Scenic Artist
Carrie Taylor, Freelance Stage Manager
Kate Bonney, Lighting Designer
Fran Craig, Freelance Stage Manager
David Sneddon, Freelance Stage Manager
Yvonne Buskie, Freelance Stage Manager
Naomi Hoolahan, Freelance Company Stage Manager:
“I really believe that touring companies such as Catherine Wheels, offer much needed on the
job learning for Stage Managers and Technicians to enhance their skills beyond
college/training. That moment when you leave college/training, having learnt so much, it's
companies like Catherine Wheels who show you how to put everything you have learnt into
practice and without regular funding, they will be unable to provide the same opportunities,
which really leaves a skills gap in the industry.
Without these opportunities at the start of my career, I wouldn't have been ready to take on
roles like Company Stage Manager at the Royal Lyceum, or National Theatre of Scotland. For
me personally small scale touring was a huge part of my career development, particularly in
Scotland, and I feel strongly that taking away this regular funding will put this in jeopardy.”
Liam Boucher, Technician
Emma Jones, Head of Production, Scottish Dance Theatre
Leila Kalbassi, Design Assistant and Scenic Artist Dundee Rep
Bee George, Freelance Stage Manager
Michaella Fee, Freelance Technician/Stage Manager:
“Catherine Wheels made me a Stage Manager. As a Freelance Technician and now Stage
Manger they are the best company to work for. The support and guidance they give is
unbelievable. When away on tour you never feel alone, you know there is a team of people
behind you in the office or in rehearsal or in the workshop that care and are working hard to
make your tour and all the other tours they are working on the best they can be.
No one I have worked for are as organised and amazing to their staff as Catherine wheels.
They are the best at touring, and the work they make is so great. I have seen the the look on
the faces of children and their parents after seeing a show. I’ve seen children laugh and
teachers cry. We need Catherine Wheels!!”
Alma Sua Lindenhovius, Freelance Stage Manager
Gary Morgan, Stage Management
Fi Johnston, Freelance Stage Manager, Sound Designer and Youth Mentor
Laura Walshe, Stage Manager, Tron Theatre
Tim Reid, Video Designer
John Tapster, Lighting Designer, Programmer & Production Electrician
David Paul Jones, Composer
Carrie Hutcheon, Freelance Company Manager
Becky Minto, Set and Costume Designer
Andrew Kirkby, Sound Designer
JJ McGregor, Carpenter and Project Manager, Big House Events
Tracey Farrell, Freelance Stage Manager
Catherine Barthram, Costume Maker
Jason Gillespie, Freelance Sound Engineer
Jo Masson, Production Manager (Retired):
“As former Production Manager of the Tron Theatre for many years I have worked with
Catherine Wheels on many occasions as well as having had the pleasure of working for them
on a freelance basis. They are as Sian and Emma’s letter points out a thoroughly professional
and successful Children’s Theatre Company. But most importantly they are undoubtably, most
children’s introduction to theatre which cannot be overvalued and the building blocks for
future audiences and indeed the future of live theatre. It would be a great step back to loose
such a creative and established company when we should be encouraging both parents and
children to make theatre a part of their regular entertainment. Surely there must still be a part
for Catherine Wheels Theatre Company to play.”
Paul Claydon, Lighting Designer and Production Electrician
Ali Biggs, Freelance Stage Management
Davie Green, Theatre Technician.
Tamlin Wiltshire, Technical/Stage Manager:
“For over 10 years now Catherine Wheels Theatre Company has helped me develop my skills as
a Theatre Technician and Stage Manager. They have provided me with support and advice that
has built my confidence and knowledge and has led to my working in this field throughout
Scotland and Worldwide. I have travelled extensively internationally supporting and promoting
Scottish Children’s Theatre. Catherine Wheels continue to support me. Without them I would
not have had many of the opportunities that have built my career in Children's Theatre in
Scotland.”
Tom Zwitserlood, Technical Manager
Nicola Milazzo, Prop Maker
Alison Brown, Costume Designer/ Wardrobe Supervisor
Claire Halleran, Designer
Aileen Sherry, Costume Maker:
“In the work that I have done in the past it is definitely during the times that I have dressed
children and people with additional needs that I have seen them benefit personally from being
involved in theatre”
Fiona Findlater, Stage Manager
Suzie Goldberg, Freelance Stage Manager
Lou Turnbull, Technician, Macrobert Arts Centre
Kai Fischer, Set and Lighting Designer
Neil Dewar, Freelance Sound Technician
Debbie Howard, Staff and Production Manager:
“It would be devastating for so many theatre practitioners and of course theatre audiences if
Catherine Wheels' funding is withdrawn – let’s not lose a truly remarkable, creative and
dedicated company.”
Andrew Paul, Deputy Production and Technical Manager
Kay Hesford, Freelance Stage Manager
Paul Sorley, Technical Manager, Glasgow Life
Ian Gibson, Head of Lighting Sound & AV
Kenneth MacLeod, Scenic Designer
Mickey Graham, Freelance Stage Manager
Cate Mackay, Head of Wardrobe, Dundee Rep
James Baxter, Scenery Builder
Colin Wilson, Head of Stage and Flys
Scott Twynholm, Sound Designer/Composer

Brian Mitchell, Transport Manager, Scottish Opera

Archie McLaren, Head driver, Scottish Opera

Keith Jones, Driver, Scottish Opera

Marcin Urbancyzk, Driver, Scottish Opera

Brian Murphy, Orchestra Driver/Porter, Scottish Opera

Barry Inglis, Orchestra Driver/Porter, Scottish Opera

Pat Kerr, Orchestra Driver/Porter, Scottish Opera