Helen Matravers – Artistic Director / Joint CEO
Helen was appointed as Polka Theatre’s Artistic Director and joint Chief Executive in January 2023. Helen has over 12 years experience working across new writing, devised performance and artist development. Helen originally trained as an actor, eventually moving into creative producing and theatre programming. Helen has previously worked at The Drayton Arms Theatre as Artistic Director and Programmer and has made work as a Creative Producer at Theatre503, New Diorama Theatre, Lyric Hammersmith Theatre and LAMDA.
Lynette Shanbury – Executive Director / Joint CEO
Lynette was appointed as Polka Theatre’s Executive Director and joint Chief Executive in August 2018. Prior to this, Lynette spent four years as Executive Director of inclusive theatre company Spare Tyre, guiding the organization as it approached its 40th anniversary. Prior to joining Spare Tyre, Lynette spent eight years with Little Angel Theatre – initially as General Manager and later as Executive Director. She is a Trustee of VocalEyes, who enable blind and visually impaired people to access theatre and culture.
Producing
Kate Bradshaw – Senior Producer
Abigayle Bartley – Assistant Producer
Creative Learning
Polly Simmonds – Head of Creative Learning
Fran Chabrel – Community Engagement Manager
Jemima Deboo-Sands – Participation Manager (Maternity cover)
Lizzie Corscaden – Schools Manager
Lucie Long – Community Assistant
Production
Adam Crosthwaite – Head of Production
Peter Hatherall – Technical Manager
Annie James – Wardrobe Manager
Fergus O’Loan – Theatre Technician
Development
Georgina Davey – Head of Development
Jemima Unsworth – Development and Events Manager
Lizzie Lord – Trusts Relationships Manager
Gwen Morris – Events and Campaigns Assistant
Finance
Bernadette Cava – Head of Finance
Gloria Mason – Senior Finance Officer
Rosie Simmonds – Finance Assistant
Sales and Marketing
Sara Greenwood – Head of Sales & Marketing
Julia Canavan – Marketing Manager
Laura Perry – Sales & Ticketing Manager
Victoria Dowding – Marketing Officer
Mia Sinclair – Marketing Assistant
Alexander Benjamin – Sales & Ticketing Supervisor
Sara Al Ghanem – Sales & Ticketing Supervisor
Ticketing Team – Martha J Baldwin, Jemima Deboo-Sands, Georgia Joyce, Daniella Keane, Catriona Malbaski
Operations and Visitor Services
Woonie Chan – Head of Operations and Visitor Services
Bruno Fawzi Izem – Café Chef/Manager
Mark Blythe – Building and Operations Manager
Ruth Cowell – Visitor Services Manager
Emma Harvey – Volunteer Coordinator
Ross Bonny – Commercial & Hires Officer
Dora Chan – Café Supervisor
Freelance
Roman Stefanski – Associate Director
Dominic Hedges – Freefalling Project Manager
Rachel Barker – HR Consultant
Del Taylor – Write Here, Write Now Project Manager
Tory Sandars – Talking Tales Project Manager
Polka Café Team
Café Assistant – Amin Younes Boudjenah, Asia Hadithi, Grace Handy, Johra Izem, Ella Matthews, Lucy-Ann Miller, Jenny Norton, Moeka Ouchi, Oscar Reynolds
Visitor Services Team
Duty Manager/ Visitor Services Assistant – Charlie Blair, Rosie Malone
Visitor Services Assistant – Martha J Baldwin, Luke Bourne, Ryan Denton, Samantha Lyons, Eva McNeill, Angiella Puccini, Morven Renfrew, Sasha Selvadurai, Jasmine Wallace, Wang Qi, Georgina Williams
A special thank you to all of our Polka Volunteers:
Aberami Sivaharan, Abiye Alagoa-Adikibi, Adhishri Aruman, Aida Balafkan, Aimee Matthews, Alexander Mallett, Alison Foord, Ann Long, Benjamin Milne, Bryn Griffiths, Carol Cakarun, Chui Yiu Lee, Clair Burningham, David Hodgson, Edie Gray, Elliot Taghizadeh, Emily Xu, Emma Ashton, Ethan Kerr, George Elbogen, Hadia Mudassir, Issy Currie, Jeanet Jeayananthan, Jay Jones, Joel Zitolo, Joey Roberts, Joyce Clark, Koko Idiong, Lesley Beavitt, Linda Kot, Louise Duncan, Margaret Bragg, Marta Friedmann, Maya Richards, Megan Versey, Nicola Dantas, Niki Adams, O’Brien Thomas, Olha Korobova, Olivia Wood, Ophelia Lanfranchi, Paul Elliott, Paul Thomas, Pauline Addison, Rosie Harland, Rosie Stubbs, Rory Dyer, Ryan Leonard, Ruth Roycroft, Sarah Blows, Shirley Cowton, Suzanne Grocott, Teresa Monteleone, Thivyan Paranthaman, Xander Hall
