Consultancy: examples and testimonials
English National Opera
I helped the ENO Engage team develop an ambitious new approach to their youth programme through a series of structured conversations and a whole-team workshop.
“Ned has a unique ability to create fun, safe and supportive spaces that enable conversations to happen and ideas to flow, really getting the best out of everyone. I think this is because Ned’s approach is one of open curiosity, learning alongside us – guiding us towards the root of the question or challenge with warmth and expertise. It takes great skill to listen, facilitate and shape thinking and ideas in the way that Ned inimitably does – bringing clarity, challenge and a sense of play – in a way that appears effortless.”
Jenny Mollica, Director of Strategy and Engagement
Brighton People’s Theatre
I worked with the BPT team and trustees to develop a new vision and mission for the company and a new programme structure that helped streamline and focus their work around the idea of bringing Brighton together.
“Working with Ned was an absolute pleasure from start to finish. He is insightful, challenging, observant and constantly pushes your thinking further and deeper. His style is supportive, reflective and full of gentle wisdom. As the Founder of BPT, it was especially useful for me to work with another Founder/Artistic Director, who understood the complexity of that position and the challenges of the wider theatre ecology in which we operate.”
Naomi Alexander, Artistic Director and CEO
Plymouth Theatre Royal
I led consultation workshops with community and youth participants as part of TRP’s ‘Your Voice Matters’, a series of conversations designed to steer the organisation’s future creative direction.
“Ned has a very unique skill at encouraging people to share. He does this openly, safely and candidly about issues they care about in a way that is rare. His practice helps you to consider things you care about differently, through different lenses and through different eyes. His work will make my charity stronger, more creative and more relevant.”
James Mackenzie-Blackman, CEO
Restoke
I spent a day with Restoke helping them think about a major new project with young people. Clare then came on my Making Theatre with Young People course to help consolidate and build on our discussion.
When Restoke decided to start a new project for teenagers, we knew we had to speak to Ned! He gave us so many healthy challenges which ensured we understood our own motivations, hopes and starting points before we began any of the work.
We also attended Ned’s Making Theatre with Young People course, and have never experienced such a generous and clear sharing of a show-making process, along with translatable tools, games, methodologies and research which add so much depth and understanding. I left with so much more knowledge, new ways of thinking about things and also practical skills.
Clare Reynolds, Co-Director
Stockroom Theatre
I led a consultation with Stockroom’s staff team and a series of workshops developing the identity of the company and its collaborative methodology, with a particular emphasis on how it wanted to lead a national conversation about class.
“Ned's consultancy work was fundamental to the strategic planning of our company. The way he involved the entire company to make them feel part of the process while being mindful of difficult conversations that could slow down the process was invaluable to our sense of cohesion around vision and mission.”
Martin Derbyshire, Executive Director
Platform Arts Centre
I ran an intensive two-day workshop with the whole staff team, developing a new vision for this arts centre that rooted its practice in its local community in the East End of Glasgow.
“Ned held our conversation with a great deal of expertise, pushing, prodding and challenging us to move beyond superficial and automatic responses to consider on a much deeper level what it is that we do and how we do it.”
Matt Addicott, Artistic Director
Creative Scotland
I used my experience of developing the ArtWorks Fellowship to help Creative Scotland develop their own fellowship programme, including training and mentoring their fellows.
“Co-designing and delivering workshops for the ArtWorks Fellowship with Ned was a great adventure. Ned was highly committed and professional and drew on principles of humanity and surprise to generate meaningful sessions. The group welcomed his creativity, presence and leadership.”
Chrissie Ruckley, Development Officer
