“I’m passionate about the community, the arts, and what the combination of these offer to our lives and wellbeing. After several years working within the music education system, to years working in theatre, stage management, production, and theatre education, I’m really excited to connect these dots working alongside Jayne who shares the same vision and values regarding community, wellbeing, inclusivity and the power of the arts.”

“Art washes from the soul the dust of everyday life.” – Pablo Picasso

Over the last seven years, Phill has been working as the ‘Creative Learning and Development Producer’ at Blackpool Grand Theatre, with the core aims of developing a life long love of theatre within the community. Another key role was to support the development of ‘Story Led-Resilience’ as a trained resilience practitioner, producing and delivering a three year arts and wellbeing programme, generously supported by the Esmee Fairbairn Foundation. This work ran across primary/secondary schools and community groups within the Blackpool and Fylde coast. The programme of work connected the town wide resilience revolution to the stories being told on the Grand Theatres main Stage. Within this role Phill also produced the Grand Young Company through the National Theatre Connections Programme, musically directed the Grand Community Chorus, and continued to connect and build upon local and national partnerships supporting the funding for the Grand Theatre through the Arts Council England

When Phill’s not connecting the community through creativity with Jayne, his freelance career includes work as a musical director of choirs and shows and creative producer on several projects, delivering creative consultation and musical workshops. 

Working in partnership with the RSC over the past few years, Phill recently took on the role of Local Musical Director, bringing together several leading members of the Blackpool community for rehearsals to join the cast and perform in the 2023 production of Julius Caesar. On a Tuesday evening, with generous initial support from Manchester’s ‘The Sunday Boys’ Phill leads the ‘Electric Pink Voices’ Blackpools new LGBTQ+ choir. This group offers a safe space, free from prejudice, where members can express themselves creatively through music, with some exciting creative projects and performances in the pipeline. Our first commissioned piece ‘Love by the sea’ recorded at the The Old Electric in Blackpool. After several pop up performances at Blackpool Pride and a growing partnership with Blackpool Central Library who we based a joint project around the book ‘This Monk Wears Heels’. We’re excited for our upcoming performances at Manchester Pride and Manchester Cathedral for ‘A Very Queer Christmas’ and also ‘A night of Xmas Cabaret’ at The Old Electric.

Prior to the work in his hometown and across the North West over the past several years, Phill’s passion for wellbeing and inclusivity in the arts accelerated when he worked within the stage management team at the London based Chickenshed Theatre Co. Here he was surrounded by a large team of people whose mission and value were to create a theatre company for absolutely everybody. He loved being part of their culture to make bold and beautiful work from their limitless belief in each other. Through their productions, training, educational courses and outreach projects, their mission continues to be one of creating wonder out of chaos and change out of challenge.