Meet the Team: Our Board
Sion - Chair
What inspired you to become a member of WMTS? I love musical theatre (watching more than performing) but I definitely needed something that was going to allow me to carve out some ‘me’ time away from a relatively stressful job and busy family life. That was when I decided to become a member. When Sion was telling me about his dealings with the Charity Commission, and I offered some words of advice, that was when I was talked in to putting myself forward for an Exec role.
What are 3 words which best describe you? Competitive, fun, organised.
What do you do for fun? I love baking – whether a ‘masterpiece’ on my own or getting messy with the kids.
What is your favorite song? Life Is A Flower – Ace of Base [or if everyone else has chosen musical songs then “There Right There” from Legally Blonde for the sheer fun of it!]
Tell me a core value that drives you in life: Giving 110% - personally, this is just how I’ve always tried to go about life, but I think it’s important to realise that you can’t be everything to everyone, so balance is key!
Earliest memory of being on stage? My early stage experiences were music performances at Eisteddfods and I had terrible stage fright every year and yet still my parents and teacher made me do them! I think I was 5 for my first one and played a piano duet arrangement of The Rose. I still have my highly commended trophy.
What show would you like to see WMTS put on in future? My favourite musical at the moment is Six. It’s got great energy and dual purpose by showing a different side to the one of the most infamous misogynists in history! So I’d love to see what we could do with WMTS to put on that show.
Which theatrical character are you most like?: Could only be Elle Woods (without the blonde!)
What does our new Mission Statement mean to you?: To me, the future of WMTS is in getting people from all walks of life and all abilities engaged with music and theatre to put on some great entertainment for the fun of it.
Gemma - Secretary
What inspired you to become a member of WMTS? Having previously been a youth member I thought it would be a good way to give back and use my charity knowledge to help with the relaunch.
What are 3 words which best describe you? Organised, Organised, Organised
What do you do for fun? I spend a great deal of my time volunteering for the scouts a local leader and on the board of the national charity, I’ve also just recently got back into going to the gym.
Tell me a core value that drives you in life: Duty
Favorite artist/composer/writer?: Vitamin String Quartet
Earliest memory of being on stage? Playing a sheppard in a school play
What does our new Mission Statement mean to you?: I am excited for the endless opportunities that it will allow us to pursue, to develop a community within Wrexham and beyond.
Jake - Treasurer
What inspired you to become a member of WMTS? My Mother probably wanted me out of the house as a hyper child back in 1998!
What are 3 words which best describe you? Funny, Naughty, Caring
What do you do for fun? Going to the theatre, Shopping for all things vintage, Hanging out with my Gecko (Trinculo).
What is your favorite song? The Whole of The Moon by The Waterboys.
Tell me a core value that drives you in life: To be openminded!
What is your most memorable live performance? I saw a performance of “Journey’s End” in 2011 when I was doing my PGCE. We took a group of students from college and we were all speechless by the end of it! The production won awards for its harrowing sound effects of the battlefield in WW1… it was a sensory experience to say the least!
What is your favorite memory of music or theatre in Wrecsam? All of the awesome bands and gigs we went to in Central Station back in the day! So fun, so messy, so young!
Favorite writer? Shakespeare!
Earliest memory of being on stage? Probably memories of pantomime with Wrexham & District in the early 90s! I remember being one of the “Tiny Tots” and dancing/ singing to “Me and My Teddy Bear” on stage in The William Aston Hall, which felt gigantic!
Which show do you find you connect with most? So many… but I do feel a particular connection to the production of Aladdin that we did at WMTS, it was the first time where I felt comfortable and confident in my ability as a performer. On reflection, it was probably because we had so much fun!
What show would you like to see WMTS put on in future? Obviously, I would love to see us tackle a Shakespearean play! MacBeth, Twelfth Night or 2 Gents maybe?
Which theatrical character are you most like?: Lady Mac Beth! (Take that how you will…) But I have also been compared to Puck in the past!
What does our new Mission Statement mean to you? The way that we all came up with the Mission Statement together as a Board actually means a lot to me… we are all part of it, and that community ethos is so integral to what I envision for the future of WMTS and our community of members and supporters.
Keira - Trustee
Gavin - Trustee
What inspired you to become a member of WMTS? I joined in 2004 when I was 14! Coming to WMTS helped me gain much needed confidence and self-awareness. I always say it was the first time I’d walked into a room full of ‘my people’. It gave me a sense of belonging, a great support network and a channel to express myself creatively. A lot of those things were missing in my life at the time, so I suppose it was a need for those things that inspired me to join, though I might not have realised that back then.
What do you do for fun? I watch a lot of theatre! I’m also a writer so I spend a lot of time working out short stories and plays. I’m never too far away from a book either and if I’m not writing, I spend my evenings reading (or watching EastEnders).
Tell me a core value that drives you in life: Creativity. I think it’s important to be able to express yourself and be creative – however you choose to do that. Having the opportunity to be creative I think is a real key to happiness and contentment.
What is your most memorable live performance? In 2019, I played Lanci in Theatr Clwyd’s Mold Riots. We brought the story to life in the streets of Mold and I will always be so grateful for the opportunity to work with some incredible professionals. I really felt challenged in the role and it was an invaluable learning experience. I’m so proud of what we achieved as a creative team. It was a production that will always stay with me.
Favorite artist/composer/writer? Gregory Maguire, who wrote the Wicked cycle (the books that inspired the musical.) He has such a talent for magical realism and for transforming familiar stories and places – like Oz – into very dark and dangerous territory.
Earliest memory of being on stage? Playing Tiny Tim in A Christmas Carol at school. I also remember playing Ariel in a very chaotic school production of The Tempest.
Which show do you find you connect with most? There are so many! Recently, I saw Milky Peaks at Theatr Clwyd. The storytelling was fresh, vibrant and totally bonkers - I loved it! It had some really powerful messages delivered through fresh perspectives. It wasn’t like anything I’d ever seen before. I remember thinking ‘This is the kind of theatre I want to be involved with!’
What show would you like to see WMTS put on in future? If we are talking musicals, I would choose Little Shop of Horrors or Avenue Q. I think there’s buckets of fun to be had with either of those. As for plays, I think something punchy, with a community at its heart. Like Pavillion by Emily White.
Which theatrical character are you most like? Well, I’ve always wanted to be Lumiere in Beauty & the Beast!
What does our new Mission Statement mean to you? I think the new mission statement is fantastic! For me, the key word is community. WMTS has so much to give – whether that’s an evening's entertainment, a chance to share a talent or try a new skill, or the opportunity to find ‘your people’. It’s about what we can do for the community, and I think that is really exciting!
What are 3 words that best describe you? Calm, creative, inquisitive.
What do you do for fun? Act. I also enjoy travel and photography.
What are your favourite musical songs? There are many but ‘I am what I am ‘ & ‘If I were a rich man ‘ are particularly memorable for me.
Tell me a core value that drives you in life: Respect
What is your most memorable live performance? A standout for me would be watching Owen Teal in Under milkwood.
Favourite memory of theatre in Wrexham: Probably my earliest memory of watching ‘The king and I’ with my grandfather.
Favourite writer? Pinter
Earliest memory of being on stage? Playing the inn keeper in school nativity and forgetting my one line.
What show would you like WMTS to put on in the future? There are so many plays & musicals I would like us to consider.
What does our mission statement mean to you? A positive new beginning.
Stewart - Trustee
Leah - Trustee
What inspired you to become a member of WMTS? Originally, my mum wanted something else to get us out of the house, and I was already dancing, so The Society seemed liked an obvious choice – we tried and we liked it. Now, I have joined the board because I want to be involved as things move forward and to see what the future holds.
What do you do for fun? In my spare time, I like to go for days out with family to places like museums, galleries and gardens. Speaking of gardens, I enjoy gardening at home and looking after my house plant babies. I recently joined the gym and enjoy, as well as the exercise, time away from the kids! Though I’m not good at it, I enjoy art and I also dabble in “secret poetry” (i.e. nobody else reads it!).
What is your favorite song? I don’t have a favourite song (I like all the music) but I can tell you that my first dance, with my partner Lucas, was to Something Just Like This.
Tell me a core value that drives you in life: Coffee.
What is your most memorable live performance? Watching the live performances at Disneyworld Florida was proper good. They’re really polished and had all of the elements that you want. Dancing was the best of the best. The singing was the best of the best. It was just all well-orchestrated and great. Short as well so you don’t have to sit for hours on end.
What is your favorite memory of music or theatre in Wrecsam? I like all the funny bits – the bits that go wrong. Like getting my skirts stuck on a part of the set and breaking it off the wall. Or knocking a grandfather clock over during Alice Through The Looking Glass. And messing about backstage – maybe I’m not supposed to say that?
Favorite artist/composer/writer? I can’t just pick one – it depends what mood I’m in.
Earliest memory of being on stage? I was in ballet for Gazelle School of Dance, aged 4, in Plas Madoc on the stage and I stopped at the front of the stage. I was meant to be dancing but I was too busy looking for my mum and dad!
Which show do you find you connect with most? I like the old-timey ones. The tap dancing, big production show where they all have a trans-Atlantic American accent. The not cool ones I suppose.
What show would you like to see WMTS put on in future? Not a specific show but short, interactive, immersive, family productions. That doesn’t mean it’s got kids in it but that it’s aimed atfamilies.
Which theatrical character are you most like? I don’t have an answer to that. I’m not like anyone else. I just like to be myself. Maureen from RENT, maybe – she’s a pain, ain’t she?
What does our new Mission Statement mean to you? It’s about being rejuvenated. Something we loved so much reimagined to suit the times. It’s exciting.
What inspired you to become a member of WMTS? My dad saw a advertisement in the paper for panto auditions and encouraged me to go to it.
What are 3 words which best describe you? Tall, dark and handsome.
What do you do for fun? Sing, play Fifa and anything to do with History.
What is your favourite song? If you’ve got the feeling - FIVE
Tell me a core value that drives you in life: “Living the Life of your Wildest Dreams”
What is your most memorable live performance? Getting up to sing with a band in a pub in Barmouth where I was on holiday with my girlfriend (who is now, my wife!)
What is your favourite memory Music or theatre in Wrecsam? When schools used to do Musical Theatre productions, like the famous St Joseph’s Roman Catholic High School’s production of Grease!
Favourite artist/composer/writer? Freddie Mercury.
Earliest memory of being on stage? Playing Father Christmas at the age of 4
Which show do you find you connect with most? The Lion King
What show would you like to see WMTS put on in future? Jersey Boys or Dear Evan Hansen.
Which theatrical character are you most like? Hamlet because he’s an overthinker and philosophizes about the world, the stars and our existence.
What does our new Mission Statement mean to you? New beginnings.
George - Trustee
Mark - Trustee
What inspired you to become a member of WMTS? I originally joined back in 1999 after seeing the tour of The Phantom of the Opera, being enthralled and wanting to do something like that.
What do you do for fun? Make music, hike hills & mountains
What is your most memorable live performance? Eric Whitacre’s Prom at the Royal Albert Hall 2015. It was the world premiere of ‘Deepfield’ an epic piece inspired by the Hubble Telescope and the imagery it’s produced. The piece culminated with a huge choir situated throughout the hall whilst an app (the audience had been encourage to download) played sounds in synchronisation and harmony with the orchestra and choir. An incredible experience.
What is your favorite memory of music or theatre in Wrecsam? Going to an orchestral concert for children, back when I was in primary school, at the William Aston Hall. We had to make our own percussion instruments to bring along and join in. Feeling like part of the orchestra at that age was great!
Favorite artist/composer/writer? Artist: Conor Harrington / Composer: Huw Watkins / Writer: Ted Chiang (currently)
Earliest memory of being on stage? Like most people, probably the primary Nativity.
Which show do you find you connect with most? Marianne Elliot’s drastic revision of Sondheim’s Company knocked my socks off for several reasons.
What show would you like to see WMTS put on in future? I’m keeping that one quiet for now, incase we make it happen…
What does our new Mission Statement mean to you? I think it’s a great representation of our collective ideas and goals, we’re a team of different people with common objectives and I think the Mission Statement displays that.
Who is Alan? We'll have more information soon...