Gilly Roche appointed Head of Interdisciplinary Practice at Guildhall School of Music & Drama

Guildhall School of Music & Drama is delighted to announce the appointment of Gilly Roche in the newly created role of Head of Interdisciplinary Practice, based in the Drama department. She joins after four and a half years as New Work Producer at Leeds Playhouse.

Collaborative and interdisciplinary work is a priority across Guildhall School, which already provides a range of projects inviting students from across disciplines (Music, Drama and Production Arts) to work collaboratively. The role, which will sit on the School’s Senior Management Team and report to the Vice-Principal & Director of Drama, Orla O’Loughlin, encompasses:

• Leading on the creation, management and delivery of the highest quality cross-art form practice
• Developing a new BA and MA programme in socially engaged collaborative practice
• Working as part of the Drama department and wider School to explore and implement collaborative and cross art form opportunities, including Cross-School Projects, ‘Co-Lab’ initiatives and opportunities within Culture Mile, the initiative led by the City of London Corporation with the Barbican, Guildhall School, London Symphony Orchestra and Museum of London to transform the area between Farringdon and Moorgate
• Forging dynamic industry relationships, ensuring the relevance of programme offerings and providing high level opportunities for students to work with industry professionals during their training, including as part of the creative alliance with the Barbican
• Providing artistic and educational leadership for interdisciplinary practice, driving change and innovation in response to a rapidly changing industry and ensuring the student experience is inclusive, representative and accessible.

Gilly Roche, says: ‘I'm thrilled to be joining the world-class team at Guildhall School at this pivotal moment in the School's history. The staff are visionary and the commitment to creating an educational environment that is genuinely inclusive, collaborative and socially engaged is inspiring. These tenets have been central to my work at Leeds Playhouse, where I've been fortunate enough to work with a dynamic, innovative and empathetic team at the top of its game. I have been consistently galvanized by the diverse community of excellent artists in Yorkshire and I hope to maintain the strong links I’ve made here. I can't wait to get started at Guildhall School, to get to know the students and staff and to work towards achieving their trailblazing ambitions.’

Orla O’Loughlin, Vice-Principal and Director of Drama at Guildhall School says: ‘This is an exciting new role dedicated to the development of interdisciplinary, socially engaged and collaborative practice across Guildhall School. It marks a moment where our alliance with the Barbican has never been stronger and I look forward to building on this key relationship as well as forging dynamic new industry and community partnerships and projects. I am thrilled to welcome Gilly to our world class conservatoire, where her proven craft, care and ambition in creating the conditions for exceptional emerging talent to flourish will provide a timely catalyst for our students towards a training that is increasingly inclusive, innovative and future-facing.’

Roche is an established producer of contemporary theatre, with a focus on professional development, artistic strategy and creating risk-ready multi-arts events. She has over ten years’ experience working across the UK to empower artists and develop new work.

As well as working with early-career artists, she has developed partnerships with and delivered training to students from a range of Higher Education institutions, including the University of Glasgow, York University, Leeds College of Music, Leeds University and Birkbeck University. 

She is currently New Work Producer at Leeds Playhouse, where she is responsible for creating and implementing a transformative organisational strategy to place artistic development at the heart of the Company's work. During her tenure in Leeds, new work developed by the Playhouse has brought in more than £100k in additional ACE subsidy and won or been nominated for two Amnesty International Freedom of Expression Awards; multiple Fringe Firsts; the Stage Special Award and the Susan Smith Blackburn Prize for Playwriting. Most recently, she conceived and delivered the Playhouse's reopening programme, Leeds Playhouse is Open, after its £16m capital redevelopment project.   

Originally from Glasgow, Roche has worked as a producer with the National Theatre of Scotland, the Citizens Theatre and freelance, and as a graphic designer in Barcelona and San Francisco.