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Our Board

  • Tom Bellerby

    Co-chair

    Tom is a freelance theatre director and dramaturg. He started his career at Pilot Theatre and went on to become the Resident Director at the Donmar Warehouse and Associate Director at Hull Truck Theatre, where he was a key member of the team who planned and delivered the theatre's programme as part of Hull 2017 UK City of Culture. Alongside his directing work Tom regularly teaches at some of the UK's top drama training institutions including Arts Ed, RCSSD and Leeds Conservatoire.

  • Amanda Smith

    Mandy is Executive Producer for Pilot. She has a passion for how work connects with audiences, particularly young people, and in setting up and exploring international partnerships. She has directed numerous shows for young audiences, run workshops for young people and teachers in Russia, Japan and Australia as well as participating in projects across many European countries.

  • Christina Wright MBE

    Formerly a secondary school drama teacher, Tina Wright was awarded an MBE in 2009 for services to education. Subsequently she has qualified as a professional theatre audio describer for the blind and partially sighted. She is also on the Board of Trustees of Accessible Arts and Media in York.

  • David Collins

    David is the Executive Director of Northern Ballet.  Previously he was he was Executive Director and Deputy CEO of Opera North where he led the fundraising campaign for the company’s major capital project and prior to this he was Head of Marketing at the RSC.  David served as a Board member for Opera Europa, the association of European opera companies, and is a parent governor at his local primary school.

  • Esther Richardson

    Esther is Artistic Director for Pilot Theatre.  She has directed work for many other venues and companies including Soho Theatre, Cast, Tamasha Theatre, Nottingham Playhouse, Bolton Octagon, Theatre Writing Partnership and New Perspectives. Her film work includes two successful shorts The Cake and Wings, which led her to be selected for Creative England’s ifeatures scheme in 2012/13. Esther participated in the Clore fellowship 2019/2020.

  • Gareth Burrow

    Gareth is an experienced chartered accountant and auditor, with a particular interest in the charity and not for profit sector.  As a long-time admirer of Pilot’s work and ethos, Gareth is delighted to be able to bring his financial skills to the Board.

  • Jo Killeya

    Jo is Head of Visitor Experience & Programming at The National Trust

  • John R. Wilkinson

    John is a theatre director and dramaturg, working freelance and as Artistic Associate at York Theatre Royal. He is the tenth recipient of the Genesis Future Directors Award at the Young Vic. Most of his directing credits are focused on intense, modern classics, though he has also worked on large scale musicals and festivals of new work for young people.

  • Katy Dartsch

    Katy is part of the senior leadership team at CAPA College, Wakefield.  She has been part of the team since 2012 as they strive to deliver high-quality arts training to 16-19 year olds across the north of England.  Katy is passionate about promoting the huge range of employment opportunities within the arts to the students.

  • Lydia Marchant

    Lydia is a writer for stage, screen and audio. She was one of eight writers selected for the BBC’s Writers Academy 19/20 and since has written for Holby City, Casualty and EastEnders. Her debut full-length play MUMSY opened at Hull Truck Theatre and she is currently writing for Wondery’s British Scandal podcast, and has work in development with Cuba Pictures and Rollem Productions.

  • Maaya Modha-Patel

    Maaya is a writer, pharmacist, Personal Trainer, and Senior Lecturer.  Coming from a medical background, Maaya has always been fascinated by the interplay between arts and sciences, and how this can have a positive impact on our health and wellbeing. She is embarking on Masters in Arts and Sciences in Creative Health - to investigate this link further.

  • Sophie Buckley

    Sophie is an employment and discrimination law specialist. She was a principal legal officer at the Equality and Human Rights Commission and is now a fee-paid employment judge.

  • Stephen Mason – co-chair

    Stephen is enraptured by theatre, its processes and potential, and directs plays himself though at a level well below Pilot Theatre. In his other life Steve is a solicitor working on behalf of the travel/holiday industries, and enjoys bringing his legal skills to the benefit of Pilot.

  • Tracy Mosley

    Tracy has over 25 years of experience in marketing and communications, primarily in the arts/cultural, educational and charitable sectors. Tracy has previously worked for Audiences Yorkshire, Yorkshire Dance, and for a wide range of organisations nationally and internationally as a freelance consultant.