We design professional theatre productions, site specific, immersive games and participatory community driven projects, throughout Northern Ireland and internationally. With work spanning over 30 years, the company has a reputation for innovation and accessibility. We work across sectors, using arts to deliver objectives for health, education, heritage, tourism, economic development, social development, rural development and town and city regeneration. As a company, we seek to innovate how and where culture is made and performed and how theatre can be used as a tool to regenerate and serve the community to create long term impact. Our work is multi-platform and cross sectoral, fuelled by a belief in the intrinsic value of arts practice and its potential to deliver a range of educational, economic and social outcomes. Influences in our work to date include, gaming and escape rooms, computer hacking, burner phones, AI, AR, emotional computing and binaural sound.
ABOUT US
“While others were rushing to fling whatever they had in their archive on line, these two companies have pioneered live interactive storytelling that has provided rollicking family entertainment and made it feel as the audience is not an afterthought but essential”
Lyn Gardner
Zoe is the founder and artistic director of Big Telly. She is one of Northern Ireland’s most respected theatre directors, and has worked extensively in the UK. In 2018, Zoe was awarded an Honorary Doctorate by the University of Ulster for her commitment to the dramatic arts in NI.
As the company’s financial manager, Collette navigates the company finances and keeps a tight rein on budgets and governance .
Linda joined the Big Telly team in 2008. She manages a wide range of projects and describes her role as extremely varied - no two days are the same.
Crissy joined Big Telly on secondment in August 2020 and took on the post full time in January 2021. Crissy has over 7 years experience in producing national and international touring work, with a specific focus on digital and site responsive work. Previously, Park Theatre, London, Young Actors Studio, London and Creation Theatre Company, Oxford. She has worked as an actor, director and producer and a member of faculty at Oxford School of Drama from 2015-2019, where she taught Devising and Professional Development.
Ali is Fun Palaces Ambassador for NI, and is passionate about the capacity of Fun Palaces to build community connections by celebrating the brilliance of everyone. She is excited to collaborate with individuals and groups, and help them find inspiring ways to share the creativity and skill that can be found all over Northern Ireland. Fun Palaces is funded by the Big Lottery Community Fund, and Ali is part of a network of ambassadors across the UK - working together to make a difference to the communities where they are based.
Board of Directors
Big Telly Theatre Company is governed by a Board of 8 voluntary Trustees who meet quarterly.
Company Trustees:
- Tom Maguire (Chair) – Head of School of Arts and Humanities, Ulster University;
- Gerda King – communications consultant;
- Cara MacMahon – Cultural Consultant;
- Tony Hennessey (Treasurer) – Accountant;
- Chris Hurd-Wood – Human Resources Consultant (IBM);
- Rosana Trainor – Secretary of the Belfast Natural History and Philosophical Society;
- Claire Sugden – MLA for East Londonderry (Independent Unionist) and former Minister for Justice (until 2017);
- Alison Grundle – Business Improvement Consultant.
