Production & Design Department Staff

About our Production & Design staff

All the teaching staff have had long and varied careers in professional theatre or live events. The department maintains current industry contacts via incoming directors, designers and lighting designers, as well as freelance costume supervisors, scenic artists, prop makers, production managers and lighting programmers. It also has strong links with professional colleagues and ex-students working with all major UK theatre and opera companies, productions and suppliers.

Designers and lighting designers who have worked at the School include: Ana Inés Jabares-Pita, Adrian Linford, Jess Curtis, Anna Reid, Louie Whitemore, Sarah Beaton, Kai Fischer, David Howe, Matt Daw, Robbie Butler, Johanna Town, Peiyao Wang.

Production & Design Staff

Director of Production & Design
Hansjörg Schmidt 

Programme Leader, BA Production Arts
Kevin Freeman

Programme Leader, BA Performance Design
Dr Susannah Henry

Programme Leader, MA Collaborative Performance Making
Emily Orley

Head of Costume
Rachel Young

Head of Design Realisation
Vanessa Cass

Head of Stage Management 
Helen Barratt (until September 2026)
Debra Tidd (from September 2026)

Head of Theatre Technology
Mark Hartley 

Associate Producer
Stuart Calder

Outreach Manager (Production & Design)
Jon Hare

Professor of Contextual Studies (Module Convenor)
Dr Tōmei Bacon