COMPANY BACKGROUND
Formed in 1987, Big Telly is the longest established professional theatre company in Northern Ireland and is a recognised charity (registration no. XR22007). The company receives annual support funding from the Arts Council of Northern Ireland and in-kind support (use of an office) from the local authority, Coleraine Borough Council. Big Telly is an Approved Manager of the Independent Theatre Council (ITC) and operates Equity/ITC contracts for all its productions.
Big Telly's work is driven by a determination to offer audiences entertainment that surprises, stimulates and ignites the imagination. The company’s range and scale of work is unparalleled, with its reputation for innovation built upon distinctive theatre productions which tour nationally and internationally, entrepreneurial projects with unique strategies for engagement, and pioneering work with young and older people. Highly audience focused, Big Telly consistently delivers original work which has popular appeal, is action-based and consistently pushes the boundaries of traditional theatre. It concentrates on the visual potential of theatre through fusion with other art forms such as dance, music, circus, magic and film to create a unique sense of spectacle.
Mission Statement:
To invest in the development of professional theatre, theatre skills and creative expression through theatrical experiences that surprise, stimulate and entertain.
Vision and Objectives:
Big Telly aims to innovate, involve, inspire, excite and ignite the imagination through the company's design, delivery, production, touring and training activities.
Primary objectives:
- To concentrate on the visual potential of theatre through fusion with other art forms such as dance, music, circus, magic and film to create a unique sense of spectacle
- To develop skills for practitioners and the dissemination of professional theatre skills to a wider community
Values and Approach:
- Educational and outreach programmes, open rehearsals and community creativity projects, workshops, talks and summer schools
- Placing the audience firmly at the centre of work through open and inclusive processes
- The production and touring of new work, and production and touring of classic texts and published work which are presented in an innovative manner (existing work is given a contemporary angle and relevance is stressed)
- Acting an agency role to support skill development of teachers, actors, community groups and staff
Patrons:
John Godber; Frank McGuinness; James Nesbitt; Fiona Shaw
Board of Trustees:
Tom Maguire (Chair) - Senior Lecturer in Theatre Studies at the University of Ulster;
Chris Hurd-Wood - Human Resources Consultant with IBM;
Cara MacMahon - freelance Cultural Consultant;
Gerda King - freelance Communications Consultant;
Karl Doherty - Partner of Doherty Brennan Solicitors, Coleraine;
Julienne Elliott – Coleraine Town Centre Manager;
Bernard Fitzpatrick – Coleraine Borough Councillor (Alliance Party representative);
Louise Rossington is the Company Secretary.
Staff:
Artistic Director - Zoë Seaton
General Manager - Louise Rossington
Development Manager - Linda McCracken
Finance/Administration Officer - Collette Quigley
Spring Chickens Project Manager - Pat Morris
Spring Chickens Creative Facilitator – Judith Pillow
