Enriching children and young people through theatre
OUR TRUSTEES
Shelly was instrumental in getting this group back up and running, by advertising for people to help
form and run the group back in 2014/2015. This was when Stretford Public Hall was asset
transferred back to the community – so the group would have a home and the hall would have a
theatre group. Shelly loves the theatre and is a regular at The Lowry and wants to ensure this art
form continues throughout the coming generations. She is one of Stretford’s community leaders and
is extremely organised, capable and passionate about improving Stretford. She works for Network
Rail in project management and controls.
Kirsty is an accountant by day and is the treasurer for this group. Kirsty loves a good spreadsheet and pie charts make her happy! It is her job to keep us on the straight and narrow when it comes to financial control and she does this well and is great fun to be around. She is a young mum of two boys and lives in neighbouring Urmston, but grew up in Stretford and her parents are still here so she is a frequent visitor to the town.
Niall Brennan is an Applied Theatre practitioner and graduate of the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama. Based in Stretford, Niall has been facilitating drama and film projects with young people for over 6 years. Working for organisations such as The British Film Institute, Pauline Quirke Academy and NCS.
Niall is also a qualified PGCE Secondary Drama teacher from the Manchester Metropolitan University.
Niall is really interested in exploring community engagement through multiple and diverse art platforms.
Sophie's journey in theatre began with training at the North Cheshire Theatre School from the age of 5, where she cultivated her skills in performance. Her early years in Stockport saw her participating in various productions across the UK, where she gained practical experience in ballet, tap, and modern dance. She then moved to London to study Musical Theatre at the Guildford School of Acting.
In London, Sophie showcased her talent on stages such as the Tabard Theatre and the Yvonne Arnaud Theatre in Guildford and Cadogan Hall, in concerts and productions like Just So and Kiss Me Kate.
Outside of acting work, Sophie also had an educational role, spending over 8 years teaching and directing at Stagecoach Theatre in South West London. Here, she played a pivotal role guiding students in dance and singing, and orchestrating productions that graced prestigious venues like His Majesty's Theatre.
Now residing in Manchester and a mother of two, Sophie remains connected to the theatre scene, albeit in a different capacity. While she has stepped back from her performance career, Sophie is keen to be actively involved with community initiatives and use her artistic experience where possible for the next generation of talent.
Mary has a diverse and rich background in both theatre and music. From a young age, she developed her skills in playing the Celtic harp, which led to her performing at numerous events. After achieving a first-class degree in Media and Performance, Mary took on the role of Development Manager at The Palace Theatre and Opera House in Manchester. In this position, she was responsible for managing the Stage Experience, a challenging project that involved producing a show from scratch with 120 young participants in just two weeks.
Throughout her career, Mary has also performed with theatre companies such as Slung Low Theatre and Yan Tan Tethera. After taking a break to focus on her family, Mary is now a busy mother of three and works in the Access and Achievement departments at a local high school.
In 2023, Mary participated in a project with Enjoy Arts, which rekindled her passion for performing and community arts. This experience inspired her to join as a facilitator at Stretford Children's Theatre, where she passionately advocates that everyone should have the opportunity to perform.
