Susie McKenna.

Theatre
Actress, director and producer (Cats)

Susie has been working as an actor, writer, and director for over 35 years working in theatres, nationally and in the West End, Television and film.

As an actor her West End Credits include Cats, Chicago, Ragtime and Witches Of Eastwick. She played Jenny Any Dots in the 1998 film of Cats the Musical.

Susie is currently Associate Artist at Kiln theatre, and working freelance as a writer, director and actress.

She most recently directed Jungle Rumble, a musical for children at the Fortune Theatre in London’s West End and her production of Blues In the Night starring Sharon D Clarke, Clive Rowe, Debbie Kurup and Gemma Sutton was Olivier Nominated for Outstanding Achievement in an affiliate theatre.

After writing and directing Hackney Empire’s first ‘in house’ pantomime, Dick Whittington, in 1998, Susie wrote and directed the pantomime there every year since including 2020’s 21st anniversary production of Dick Whittington set in post war London 1948 as Dick arrives on the SS Empire Windrush for which she won Best Director at the Great British Pantomime awards.

Having had a long association with Hackney Empire as associate director, Susie spearheaded the reopening after a brief closure in 2010 and became Creative Director of Hackney Empire until December 2017.

More Guest speakers on board

Andreane Neofitou.

Costume designer (Les Miserables, Miss Saigon, Royal Shakespeare Company)

Internationally renowned costume designer Andy Neofitou’s highly acclaimed work for the Royal Shakespeare Company over many years led to her outstanding success with Les Miserables directed by Trevor Nunn and John Caird, and her beautifully resear...

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Theatre

Matthew Croke.

Actor and singer (Aladdin, Funny Girl).

Actor and singer (Aladdin, Funny Girl).

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Theatre

Ben Stock

Actor

Ben has performed leading and supporting roles in musicals and plays in the West End and around the UK, including Disney’s Beauty & The Beast, Hello Dolly, Stepping Out, Gypsy, Grease, Charley’s Aunt and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. He is also a d...

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Theatre
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