Meet the Young People and Community Team
Get to know your Young People and Community Team below! Find out about what each member of the team does, and how they can help you.
Meet Hayley | Meet Helen | Meet Kieran | Meet Moira | Meet Rob
Hayley – Head of Young People and Community
What is your job and what do you do?
I am the Head of Young People and Community. This means that I am overseeing all the amazing work across the department. I get to think strategically about what we are doing and why we are doing it. I get to have great conversations with our community, young people, creatives, funders, teachers…the list goes on. Each day is different and that’s what keeps it exciting and interesting.
Why do you work in the creative industry?
I love storytelling! I started attending a Youth Theatre when I was 5 – my first stage appearance was dressed as a yellow duck in a furry costume. I had the joy of being in English Touring Theatre Youth Theatre in the town I grew up where nobody really talked about theatre, and it was where I found my tribe – I know that sounds cheesy, but that moment when you discover people like you is fantastic! I love that my job means I get to encourage young people to have agency, break down barriers and make space for themselves. I love being able to help communities to tell their stories and make sure everyone has a platform.
What have you done previously?
I previously worked at Storyhouse where I was part of the original team that opened the building, and I led the Young Storyhouse department in setting up all the varied projects for young people. Before that I worked for the third largest unitary authority in the North West where I was managing the youth theatre and skills development programmes. I have also directed shows with Young Companies, produced community festivals, written children’s shows, facilitated drama workshops for young people across the country, worked in retail, been an usher in a theatre and had a short stint as a receptionist.
Why might someone get in touch with you?
You might be a funder looking to fund some excellent community work, or you might have a project to discuss, or you might be a creative who wants to work with young people, you might be an employer looking to support young people into work, you might be a young person or an education/community leader. I enjoy meeting people and discussing how we can work together.
What is your favourite time of the year?
I love summer - I don’t think I was made for cold climates! But I do enjoy the transition from Summer into Autumn where the sun still feels warm on your face, and you get to wrap up a little and take nice colourful walks outside.
Email Hayley: [email protected]
Helen - Young People and Community Producer
What is your job and what do you do?
I am the Young People & Community Producer for the Liverpool Everyman & Playhouse Theatres and I have a specific focus of working with YEP. I often find that when I tell someone I am a producer, they don’t know what it means! The simplest way I can put it is that I connect all the dots between the different projects and creative processes that are happening to make sure that everything happens the way it should and that everyone gets what they need. If I am producing a show then I am talking to the director, production team, creatives and actors to make sure that the show is progressing forwards with everyone on the same page – and I am also controlling the budget to make sure we can afford it! If I am producing a project for the department then I am sorting all the logistics for it. I am also responsible for the welfare and mentoring of the young people we work with. I do deliver some sessions that are directly related to producing, but you will most likely find me hovering around sessions that are being delivered by another facilitator, updating our social media pages, or typing very fast to send out lots of emails to line up the next bit of the project that needs to happen!
Why do you work in the creative industry?
I love the arts. All of them, in every form they take. From a personal perspective, creativity has got me through some of the most difficult periods of my life and I count myself so lucky that I get to come into a creative organisation every day for my actual-real-life-adult job. I know we hear it said all the time, but the arts are SO important, for everyone. Expression is important. Telling stories is important. Learning and listening to each other is important. Getting to be part of that, even in a small way, makes me very happy.
What have you done previously?
I have been a lover of the performing arts since a very young age. I trained in dance from the age of 5, went to drama club from the age of 7 and was in Wirral Youth Theatre (now Wirral Creative Youth Development) from the ages of 13-23, where I also trained as a Youth Arts Worker. I got GSCEs and A Levels in performing arts subjects and did a degree in Drama at LJMU, graduating in 2010. During my small but perfectly formed career as a professional actress, and a stint as a youth worker for a small charity in North Birkenhead, I started work at the Everyman as an usher. I moved on to become a Front of House Manager, Bar and Events Manager, and up until 2023, was the Artistic and Executive Administrator, providing support to the creative, executive and trustee leads of the organisation, as well as supporting all of the main house shows including looking after the wellbeing of creatives and actors. I’ve also worked in a chippy, sold fancy jewellery, made teddy bears and worked on a customer service desk in a supermarket.
Why might someone get in touch with you?
Creatives and other professionals working with YEP on a show or other project may get in touch with me to plan, deliver and evaluate. Other organisations that want to work in partnership with us on projects for young people may contact me to pitch ideas and talk logistics. Young people get in touch with me to discuss aspects of projects I am working on with them or to get support for something they need help with.
What is your favourite film?
Romeo + Juliet (1996) directed by Baz Luhrmann. It is the film that made me so sure that I wanted a career in the arts. It is also the best film of all time and I will hear no more on the matter.
Email Helen: [email protected]
Kieran - YEP Technical Manager
What is your job and what do you do?
I am YEP Technical Manager. I lead the YEP Technicians course which is mainly lighting, and sound based. I also manage the studios in the Everyman & Playhouse Theatres and I get to create technical workshops for schools and community groups displaying the more fun aspects to a job in tech.
Why do you work in the creative industry?
The creative arts industry is hard to get into but definitely recognises merit when it’s earned. After finishing the YEP Techs course myself 8 years ago, I tried to go above and beyond in every tech opportunity I was given, and I’m blessed to see my progress by now teaching the course I started my career from.
What have you done previously?
I worked as an Usher during my YEP Tech training, slowly progressed onto a casual list for technicians. I have since had short and long term contracts as a Technician and a Senior Technician and even Stage Management over my professional working life.
Why might someone get in touch with you?
I would be the person that you’d contact after organising anything requiring technical support within the studios of the Everyman & Playhouse Theatres e.g. projector and screen, microphones, theatre lighting etc.
What is your favourite cake?
I have a sweet tooth and my current fixation is pistachio cakes and pastries. Pistachio is the new vanilla, it’s just green. You'll be fine, live a little.
Email Kieran: [email protected]
Moira – Education and Community Manager
What is your job and what do you do?
I am the Community and Education Manager. I help arrange activities with communities and schools and look at ways of encouraging and supporting people, especially those who might not think theatre is for them, to come to see the wide range of great shows and events we have on our stages; I also help people find out about careers in theatre and how they can get involved.
Why do you work in the creative industry?
It’s fantastic to be able to see and join in with so many different activities myself but also to see people explore and develop their own creative skills and interests and to have fun while doing so! I am constantly amazed at the range of skills and creative capabilities of so many people across our city and beyond.
What have you done previously?
I have been an assistant teacher of English in France, an accounts assistant, I worked in IT for an international software development company for a long time doing lots of things such as writing user manuals, writing bespoke help screen for software programmes, delivering training, customer support, finance roles, sales work and organising strands of international conferences, as well as supporting associate companies in Belgium and France! At the Everyman, I have worked in an administrative and supporting role for the Engagement and YEP teams for many years. In my own time, I have been heavily involved with community pantomime for over 10 years.
Why might someone get in touch with you?
If you are a teacher and want to arrange a workshop or support for your curriculum or extra-curricular delivery.
If you are a community leader and want to find out how you and your group can find a way of getting involved.
If you and your groups want to find out about careers in the theatre
If you would like an educational or community tour of the theatre
If you want to be able to access community rate tickets
If you are looking to engage in the arts for your health and wellbeing
What is your favourite book?
My favourite book is The Lord of the Rings and I think I might actually have a touch of Hobbit DNA as I love mushrooms, songs, poetry and I am not averse to a second breakfast!
Email Moira: [email protected] or [email protected]
Robert - Mentor
What is your job and what do you do?
I have been mentoring at the Everyman and Playhouse as part of YEP for six years. I have supported our YEP members through a wide range of life goals including day-to-day plans and long-term objectives. I help young people to find work and other opportunities in the creative sector. This means that I get to see what people do next. This could be further training, jobs or volunteering. I get to see a variety of pathways and it would be hard to list everything that people get to do next!
Why do you work in the creative industry?
I work in the creative industry having worked across most areas of what media and the creative world is. This includes film, the music industry, community theatre and supporting people wanting to access the creative world. I enjoy doing this job because I feel that creating pathways into the creative world is an important aspect of how young people can find a space and place to be who they are.
What have you done previously?
I have been a musician, a writer, a film director, a lecturer, a teacher, facilitator and more. I have used my personal experience to transfer my skills to others who otherwise have not had access to the creative sector. I have been a lecturer of film and taught music technology at Further Education and University. I have worked at various groups across the county support young people, including working with Youth Offending Teams.
Why might someone get in touch with you?
You might be a member of YEP and want to reach out to me to design a plan for your goals, or to explore what area of the creative industry you want to explore as a career.
You may want to attend a YEP session and need to know more about how to get involved with us.
…try me see what I could do!
What is your favourite biscuit?
My favourite Biscuit is a “Hobnob chocolate digestive” but I also like “jammy dodgers”
Email Robert: [email protected]