The Boundless core team is small but mighty. Meet us here and get to know the work we do for the company as well as our career journeys. You can email anyone to ask a question or DM @boundlessabound to get in touch.
The Boundless core team is small but mighty. Meet us here and get to know the work we do for the company as well as our career journeys. You can email anyone to ask a question or DM @boundlessabound to get in touch.
Rob Drummer Artistic Director & CEO
Rob joined Boundless Theatre in July 2016 as Artistic Director and become sole CEO in 2019. Rob leads the organisation including commissioning new work and developing artists and projects as well as leading strategy for engaging young adults across the artistic programme. Currently working with Arts Council England on the strategic development of the Impacts & Insights Toolkit, Rob is passionate about new ways to innovate around more audiences engaging with theatre and better understanding the impact of the arts on young adults specifically.
For Boundless, Rob has directed NATIVES by Glenn Waldron (2017) and CONFIDENCE by Judy Upton (2018).
Before joining Boundless he was Associate Dramaturg at the Bush Theatre where for three and a half years he ran the Literary Department and was responsible for all playwriting work including the commissioning and development of new plays for production. He has established partnerships with Playwrights of New York (PoNY), delivered projects with Kudos Film & Television and established a partnership with Drama Centre London and Oberon Books on the ‘Student Guide To Writing: Playwriting’.
As a Dramaturg and Director Rob has worked with playwrights at theatres including The National Theatre, Hampstead Theatre, Bristol Old Vic, Contact, York Theatre Royal and Theatre503. Rob was one of the first recipients of an Artists’ International Development Fund from the Arts Council and British Council and spent time working in South Africa with playwrights and theatre makers at the Baxter and Market Theatres.
Rob is a Board Member for the Bermondsey Business Improvement District, where Boundless are proudly based.
Ine Van Riet Executive Director
Ine Van Riet joined Boundless from the Bush Theatre where she was Development Manager and jointly responsible for creating and implementing the fundraising and talent development strategies. During her time, the Bush fundraised for and completed the largest capital project in the organisation’s history, reopening the venue’s refurbished Shepherd’s Bush home in 2017. The Bush Theatre was recently awarded London Theatre of the Year by The Stage.
Prior to this Ine was General Manager for Iris Theatre and Development Officer & Associate Producer at Tara Arts. As a freelance producer she has presented UK premières at Southwark Playhouse, Theatre503 and the Finborough Theatre, and toured work both nationally and internationally.
Ogechi Nwogwugwu Digital & Creative Manager
Ogechi joined Boundless in March 2020 and takes care of all digital & social off/online affairs and is involved in the creative development and processes across all Boundless activities. She is also a trained teacher for languages and history and integrated herself in various social-cultural projects during her time in Germany. She is a music aficionado, loves food and recipe creation (food blog coming soon!).
A multi-faceted mind with an interdisciplinary background who always wants to combine social, educational, artistic and (sub-)cultural aspects in her work.
Mark Sands Finance Manager
Mark joined Boundless Theatre as Finance Manager in September 2015. He studied at the University of Warwick and trained as an actor at East 15 Acting School. He was the Executive Director of Deafinitely Theatre for almost 10 years, producing theatre at Shakespeare’s Globe, Soho Theatre, the Park Theatre, Southwark Playhouse and on national tour. He is also one of the co-founders of The Blueprint Theatre Company.
In September 2014, he set up Ardent Theatre Company for which he is currently the Co-Creative Director.
Pavlos Christodoulou Creative Associate
Pav joined Boundless in 2020 as a 1 day a week administrator but has since developed into a Creative Associate, developing projects and working closely on Boundless Artist development programs. He also is Artistic Director of Dirty Rascals Collective and Associate Director of Phosphoros Theatre, and works as an Actor/Artist Trainer.
Pav is a 3rd generation Cypriot and 2nd generation South Londoner and is a big nerd too, loves playing Dungeons and Dragons and building computers and the occasional twitch stream.
Daljinder Johal Head of Community
Daljinder works across production, marketing, journalism and curation, in addition to being a writer, to create joyful and thoughtful work that shares nuanced perspectives from voices often underrepresented in the arts and film industry.
She creates such work with Coventry-based theatre maker and playwright, Erinn Dhesi, actress and physical theatre artist Lauren Nicole Whiter as well as writer/director Jo Lane, on a BFI Network Funded short in Manchester. In fact, she has a particular passion for highlighting the creativity of regions outside of London primarily across theatre, film, festivals and audio.
She works with companies across the UK to produce an afterparty focusing on art activism and hip hop with UK rapper Lowkey for youth insight agency, Beatfreeks or marketed events at the Southbank Centre and Roundhouse London for the poetry and music night for black and brown women and non-binary people, Heaux Noire.
She makes worldwide connections with the cultural development agency ArtReach, South Asian LGBT+ organisation Gaysians or as an Assistant Managing Editor with the literary journal, Asymptote.
Shaniqua Benjamin CF:SLR Supported Freelancer
Shaniqua is a poet, writer, creative workshop facilitator, and Croydon’s first Poet Laureate. She wrote the lyrics for the London Mozart Players’ Anthem for Peace, and performed as part of Apples & Snakes’ spoken word show, Rallying Cry. Shaniqua has facilitated workshops for Spread The Word and Writerz & Scribez.
You can find out more about the CF:SLR initiative by clicking here
Megan Prescott CF:SLR Supported Freelancer
Megan is an Actor and writer who starred as Katie Fitch in the Channel four drama ‘Skins’. Megan has worked in an extremely wide variety of industries – from being a Nanny to a Pro Bodybuilder. She’s currently writing her debut play supported by Soho Writers’ lab and The Bush Theatre.
You can find out more about the CF:SLR initiative by clicking here
Natalie is a producer from Hong Kong and now based in London. Alongside producing, she works in the fundraising team for Creative Youth Charity and is a recipient of the Blackbaud Scholarship for pursuing a part time MA in Philanthropic Studies at the University of Kent. Recent highlights include working with BFI Network to deliver fundraising workshops and producing Dumbledore Is So Gay which won the VAULT Festival’s Origins Award 2020. She previously trained as Resident Assistant Producer at Theatre503 and worked as Box Office Deputy Manager for Pleasance Theatre Trust.
Twitter: NatalieNat_Chan
Cherry is a London-based writer, director, performer, and spoken-word poet. Her work often explores identity, family, and universal anxieties. She is interested in creating work that is relevant, empowering, electric, and blurs boundaries between disciplines.
Web: https://cherryeckel.weebly.com/
Instagram: cherrytheeckel
Twitter: cherrytheeckel
Jordan is a multi-disciplinary and open-minded creative who believes that Theatre, TV, Film and music have the power to move people and change lives. He enjoys great stories. And he believes that shared watching and shared experiences are the way to open conversations/taboos. Whilst currently working full-time as Raw TV‘s Talent Assistant – where he meets some of the most talented people in the industry – Jordan watches widely and retains his foot in the theatre door as a Boundless Young Advisor with his peers. He’s also a member of Mousetrap Theatre Projects’ Youth Forum . Moreover, Jordan’s a passionate advocate both for building ‘creative access’ into culture, and access and inclusion within the workplace. Alongside his own career ambitions (along the factual editorial/development routes, which will hopefully segue with directing or producing theatre and TV drama / feature films) Jordan audaciously hopes to be a Junior Board Member and learn how else he can give back to other companies in time.
Rather than writing (*typing*) in the third-person, Jordan thinks he’s funnier and/or comes across lighter in person!
Instagam: @jordanfreud1
Emilia has been a part of the Boundless Advisory Group for a while now, and since completing the Certificate of Higher Education at East 15 Acting School in 2018, she has spent the majority of her time creating. Now training at MN Academy, Emilia spent her time in lockdown writing and developing stories and spoken word pieces, as well as composing music. Prior to lockdown, Emilia worked as a Drama Teacher at multiple local drama schools across Ealing, including Questors Youth Theatre and Yourstage Drama.
Emilia is also currently constructing her own series of short devised pieces, which incorporate her musical compositions with pieces of spoken word and physical theatre.
Instagram: emilia.hargreaves
Twitter: emiliaharg
Aaron is a Turkish/Canadian theatre & film-maker based in London. Recently, he was shortlisted for the Theatre503 International Playwriting Prize, and won the Methuen Drama ‘Other Prize’. He is a member of the Royal Court Agitator Programme, and an Emerging Writer at the London Library.
Instagram: aaronkil
Twitter: aa_koglu
Clíona is an Irish writer and director based in London. Her work engages with feminism and climate activism, often mixing disciplines. Clíona recently graduated from Brunel University London with a BA in Theatre and English, and she is now working at Jerwood Arts as Team Assistant alongside developing her theatre-making practice.
Instagram: clionama
Twitter: clionamal
Simon is a playwright, poet and facilitator based in Derbyshire. His work champions disadvantaged people accessing the arts; acting as a co-producer for Learning Disabled theatre company Hubbub Theatre, as a creative mentor for care-experienced young people, and working on city-wide initiatives in Derby for young people’s creativity.
Twitter: veryrareSimon
Julia is an actor and theatre-maker based in London. She recently graduated from Royal Central School of Speech and Drama with a Master’s in acting, where she was a recipient of the Embassy Scholarship. She is a keen actor-deviser and co-created with Poltergeist Theatre the sell-out show Lights Over Tesco Carpark (Pleasance, New Diorama). She recently enjoyed playing a chorus part in season two of Boundless Theatre’s audio-drama, Radio Elusia.
Twitter: JuliaPilkington
Fin Ross Russell is one of the original members of the Boundless Theatre Advisory Group and has been delighted to support the organisation in several different unique and exciting capacities over the course of the last four years. Fin is also the co-founder of Island Life Productions, having founded the company with his sister in 2011. Since then, he completed his BA in Drama, Applied Theatre & Education from the Royal Central School of Speech & Drama. Following a year working at Chichester Festival Theatre as the theatre’s Education Assistant, Fin moved up to Edinburgh where alongside running the company, he is a freelance workshop facilitator for Edinburgh City Council, LYRA & Strange Town. He is the co-director of the UK Centre of the International Theatre Institute and communications director of the organisation’s Network for Emerging Arts Professionals.
Instagram: islandlifeproductions
Twitter: FinNomad
Sadhana is a creative based West Midlands. She’s been a member of the New Vic Youth theatre for over 6 years, working on projects such as the 2019 National Youth Theatre Connections show ‘The Sad Club’ and Heritage Lottery funded Dorothy Clive project. Currently, she’s a Contributor on the Voice Magazine and was part of the Radio Elusia Season 2 Writer’s room.
Instagram: sadhana.jpg
Gehna Badhwar studied Drama and Theatre Studies at Royal Holloway. Since graduating in 2019, she has worked at the Bush Theatre as a marketing intern. She is also a National Youth Theatre company member and is currently part of the Lyric Hammersmith Young Company and wants to continue to be a part of meaningful conversations surrounding the importance of inclusive theatre.
Instagram: ghenabadhwar
Twitter: ghena_b
Liam is an energetic, passionate and determined creative artist from Birmingham. Liam has trained at Birmingham Ormiston Academy and Peer Productions and is looking now to develop as an actor, specialising in contemporary theatre. He joined the Advisory Group with the hope that his opinions will help shape the most important of topics for theatre.
Instagram: liamstone__
Tapiwa is an energetic, ambitious content creator and filmmaker based in London. Having graduated from the BFI Film Academy and recently being named a Vlogstar finalist she is keen to explore more creative media as well ways to dismantle of barriers which face young creatives.
Harry is a drag artist & performer and actor based in London. Harry’s work centers on themes of drag, queer art/performance, LGBTQ+ community, history, representation & activism. After graduating in 2020 in BA (Hons) in Acting from Arts University Bournemouth he has since joined National Youth Theatre, and currently has his solo show ‘Everybody Knows Judy’ commissioned by Bournemouth Emerging Arts Festival to be on stage June 2021. He is currently rehearsing with Lyric Hammersmith Young Company to perform ‘Heart of Hammersmith’ a community theatre project to be on stage at the Lyric in August 2021.
Instagram: harry.drane
Twitter: HarryDrane_
Maja is a young, passionate, and enthusiastic stage manager based in London. Originally from Poland, she’s never lived this close to the sea and has been consistently cold since 2018. She’s currently in training at Rose Bruford College and working towards an intrinsically accessible and sustainable theatre-making, rebranding theatre as a space open to all.
Instagram: majalahahah
Tolu Fagbayi is an artist, writer and musician. She has BA Acting degree and is also in the process of writing her first play which explores the identity and intersectional feminism.
Tolu is an energetic, passionate and professional artist and person who strongly believes equality in all areas especially within the arts.
Instagram: toluafagbayi
Aisling is a creative based in London/York. She completed a foundation year in acting at the Oxford School of Drama before studying English and History at the University of York. She has written plays for the York Theatre Royal, Mountview Catalyst Festival and the National Student Drama Festival, and was recently shortlisted for the Screen/Play Award with Sky Studios and Box of Tricks Theatre Company, Hope Mill Theatre’s Through the Mill Prize, and the Silent Uproar Writers’ Support Program.
Instagram: aisling.lally
Gabriele is a director, playwright and dramaturg based in London. He is an European artist with a focus on formal experimentation, mediatised theatre and queer performance. He has recently co-founded Undone Theatre, whose first London show will debut this September, and is currently on the MA Text and Performance course at RADA and Birkbeck.
Instagram: gabrieleuboldi
Twitter: gabriele_uboldi
Xiggy is a Biomedical Sciences student based in London. They enjoy writing about people making connections in unlikely circumstances and playing Dungeons and Dragons with friends. They don’t have much experience of working in theatre, but they love to watch, and they hope to continue to do so while they study neuroscience.
Artwork by Xiggy.
Instagram: holx.001
Betty is a London based Northern facilitator and theatre-maker. Betty began their career in the Arts through the National Youth Theatre. Before this, they worked in Sales as an Executive Team Trainer and worked in TV & education for ITV’s Emmerdale. After two gap years, they enrolled at East 15 Acting school, where they discovered their passion for facilitation and applied theatre. After achieving their Certificate of Higher Education, they began their BA degree at The Royal Central School of Speech, studying Drama, Applied Theatre and Education. They are presently Student Elect Year Rep, working with faculty to ensure cohesion during the pandemic, they sit on the LTSE board meetings & are an active member of the Eco Society. Alongside this, they currently volunteer with refugees with The Compass Collective & teach English Literature at Coach Bright.
Growing up in a multicultural working-class household and being queer, they know the importance of an intersectional space & have a particular passion for bringing this into their work. Having been a secondary carer for their dad, and as a disabled person, they aim to create inclusivity in their practice.
Arwen is a student based in Cornwall. She is currently studying Drama at a GCSE level and loves to write, watch movies and act. She has never been a part of an advisory group like Boundless’ before, but is really enjoying it and can’t wait to see what happens next.
Image provided by Arwen 🙂
Rosie Allimonos has been Global Director of Digital Content at BBC Studios since 2019. Prior to this role, Allimonos was Head of Creative Partnerships at Facebook and Instagram, Head of Original Channels and Content Partnerships at YouTube across Europe, Middle East and Africa, Commissioner for BBC Drama, Films & Acquisitions and Creative Producer at All3Media. Allimonos’ has led teams on the launch of YouTube Originals SVOD Service, Facebook Watch and the IGTV vertical video player.
David Beardmore is Commercial Director of the Open Data Institute. David leads the ODI’s commercial, business development and marketing activities. Originally a classically trained musician, David has a Masters from Cambridge and an MBA in Marketing. He is married to Gill and they have 2 boys, 18 and 28. Ever the optimist, he continues to hold a season ticket at Nottingham Forest.
Freelance Social Media Consultant. 13 years’ experience in digital and social media, specialising in entertainment.
Simon Gomes is a Senior Lawyer at the Government Legal Department. Simon is a solicitor with a proven track record of public service, working for the civil service for over 8 years; including on the Free Schools programme. Simon has done a variety of fundraising work for small and national charities. Simon is a keen amateur artist and dancer in his spare time.
Simon sits on the Finance & Risk Sub-Committee.
Independent Theatre Producer working with a diverse range of artists and companies including B Team theatre & Demi Nandhra.
TV Executive and Talent Development Executive
Development Officer (Individuals) at Guildhall School of Music and Drama. Enabling talented students to receive the very best training regardless of their background.
Spencer Simmons is a retired Chartered Accountant. Spencer has been a Chartered Accountant for 40 years, mainly as a partner in practice, and has been in amateur theatre for 50 years both acting and directing. He recently spent four years abroad volunteering for different charities in Africa and is now the financial advisor to the trustees of the Charles Hayward Foundation.
Spencer sits on the Finance & Risk Sub-Committee.
Freelance Writer and Director for stage and screen. He is also currently the Head of Artist Development at the Old Vic Theatre.
Head of Marketing Campaigns at the National Theatre with over 11years’ experience working across the commercial and subsidised theatre sectors.
Outside of Joe Public, Sam took part in the Stage One Workshop for New Producers in Spring 2010, and later applied this knowledge to mounting the first production in more than fifty years of Terence Rattigan’s Variation on a Theme, starring twice Olivier Award nominated Rachael Stirling. The run sold out and received widespread critical acclaim.
Our youngest Advisory Group member Maya McFarlane’s thoughts on young people and politics: Following the recent political events such the general election and last year’s EU referendum, an issue has…
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During rehearsals we asked our Advisor Maya McFarlane, who attends Sydenham School in South London, to sit down with playwright Glenn Waldron and ask him about his inspiration for writing Natives and how he…
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Advisor insight by Max Baraki The script for ‘Natives’ was incredible, three teens that come from different cultures and social classes dealing with complex problems. They each for a brief…
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