Find out more about the team here at NTC below!
Louis Roberts
Artistic Director
Louis first began his tenure here at NTC around 2 decades ago on the InterAct training scheme as a terrified teenager, and although he has since definitely gotten older, he still stubbornly refuses to grow up.
He has gone on to graduate from trainee to fully-fledged face puller and has appeared in many shows over the years and earned the title of “rural touring veteran”, or alternatively if you asked the office “that lad who refuses to go away”.
in 2017, he became Associate Director and moved more into writing and directing, something which he found utterly fascinating and thoroughly enjoyable, and as of February 2020, took over Artistic Director duties from Gillian Hambleton at NTC.
Natalie Barnes
Company Administrator
Natalie joined NTC in 2018. She has seen her first theatre show ‘The Disasters of Johnny Armstrong and Other Daft Tales’ and loved it! She has rolled up her sleeves and experienced the workshop for ‘Heartspur’ as well as getting involved in all other aspects of the company from fundraising to front of house.
She is also enjoying meeting a wide variety of new people and is looking forward to building great relationships with our venues, actors and customers.
Alice Byrne
Associate Director
After working with NTC as an actor for several years, Alice has now taken the leap to Associate Director. As an accomplished performer and very experienced theatre practitioner Alice is a welcome addition to the core team here at NTC.
Jim Donnelly
Chair
Jim has been Chair of the Board of Trustees since early 2024.
In his working career Jim was a senior IT Architect working in the Chief Technical Office of several national and international blue chip companies. He spent more than 10 years working for British Airways, 3 years at the Financial Conduct Authority and finishing his IT at the International Air Transport Association (IATA) based in Geneva. Since retiring from his IT career Jim has transformed himself into a nationally recognised photographer, having photographs published in national press and magazines, as well as having won fine art competitions.
Jim brings many years of high level IT and business experience as well an appreciated visual creative element to the board.
Philip Harrison
Vice Chair
Philip is an actor and facilitator from the North East of England with over 30 years of experience in the creative industry.
He has an extensive background in not only theatre, but also TV, facilitation and health and safety.
Gillian Hambleton
Trustee
Artistic Director and Chief Executive of NTC Touring Theatre Company 1990 – 2020, former Chair of the Board of Directors.
Gillian is a theatre director, actor and physical theatre specialist with extensive experience in workshopping and developing new writing.
Her other skills include fundraising, budgets, administration and report writing.
Stewart Howson
Trustee
An award-winning playwright, dramaturg and actor with experience in both small-scale & London theatre including West End. His work includes extensive TV, Film and Radio credits.
Stewart has an Hons degree in Drama from Bretton Hall.
Previously to this Stewart worked in banking and has passed AIB exams in Accountancy, Economics and Commercial Law.
Kate Morrison
Trustee
Kate has been a long-standing member of the Board of Trustees for several years.
Kate was the Amble Town Council representative on the board, but on resigning as a Town Councillor decided that she needed to continue as a board member for NTC because she believed wholeheartedly in the work that the company do.
In her professional career Kate was a children’s Social Worker for Northumberland County Council and a student college counsellor at Northumberland College.
Kate brings many soft skills to her role as trustee director.
Other Members of the Board Include:
Karen Brunton-Trustee (Business Management), Brad Hoy-Trustee (Finance and Business Management), Cathy Greenhalgh-Trustee (Art and Culture), Bryan Ellis-Member (Business and Finance Management)