Meet the Team
Herts Inclusive Theatre is a charity based in St Albans, Hertfordshire. We are run by a small, passionate team of dedicated theatre professionals.
Our Patron
Sarah Beazley
Our Office Team
Ellie Short
Head of Participation & Inclusion
she/her
Ellie joined HIT as a freelance facilitator in 2017, joining as Creative Participation Manager in 2020.
Having gained BA in Drama and Theatre Arts at Goldsmiths, and a MA in Acting Arts Ed Ellie has worked as an actor, inclusive theatre practitioner and creative learning producer throughout London and Hertfordshire, working for companies including; Hoxton Hall; East End Shed; Polka Theatre and Churchill Theatre.
Ellie was Creative Learning Officer for Churchill Theatre for over six years, producing children’s theatre, co- producing their annual participation festivals for participants aged 4-90 and managing their award winning Work Experience Programme.
Emma Harrington
Community & Education Manager
Lead Facilitator: Activate Harrow
she/her
Emma has been involved with Herts Inclusive Theatre for over 20 years.
Beginning as a volunteer, she went on to play a key role in the development of the charity over a ten year period, serving as the theatre’s Producer.
In 2018, Emma joined the freelance team, leading workshops across a range of HIT’s children’s, youth, and adult groups. She also holds a Postgraduate Certificate in Autism, and brings both specialist knowledge and a strong passion for inclusive theatre to her work.
Amy Pryke
Participation & Community Coordinator
Lead Facilitator: Activate Ware
& Ignite Stevenage
she/her
Amy is a multi-skilled performer specialising in theatre and film, plus storytelling with her company ‘Tales From The Hart’.
Gaining a BA (Hons) in Community Theatre at East 15 Acting School in 2011, she has personal and professional experience of disability, including working with young people and adults in SEND education settings in addition to being a drama workshop leader and facilitator.
Amy has been thrilled to be a part of HIT since she first joined as a Support Facilitator in 2022, and she is delighted to have taken on other roles in the organisation- Participation & Community Coordinator and the Lead Facilitator for both Ignite Stevenage and Activate Ware groups.
Freelance Facilitators and Workshop Volunteers
Kasia Truefitt
Access Facilitator, Ignite Stevenage
She/Her
Tom Brain
Lead Facilitator, Sparkle & Ignite Watford,
Access Facilitator, Activate Ware, Support Facilitator, Sparkle & Ignite Hemel
He/Him
Aniqa Shah
Access Facilitator, Sparkle & Ignite Watford
Support Facilitator, Ignite Stevenage
she/her
Ali Singleton
Access Facilitator, Activate Harrow, Sparkle & Ignite Hemel + Wednesday Night Project
she/her
Alison Kent
Resources Facilitator, Sparkle & Ignite Hemel
She/Her
Nikki Simon
Resources Facilitator, Sparkle & Ignite Watford she/her
Rose Williams
Support Facilitator, Sparkle & Ignite Watford + Activate Harrow
she/her
Sophie Papworth
Support Facilitator, Sparkle & Ignite Watford she/her
Thom Jackson-Wood
Support Facilitator, Activate Ware
He/him
Kath Tomlin
Support Facilitator, Sparkle & Ignite Hemel
she/her
Rachel Leveney
Support Facilitator, Activate Harrow, Ignite Stevenage & Wednesday Night Project
she/her
Naomi Bhundia
Volunteer, Activate Harrow
she/her
Katie Byrne
Volunteer,
Ignite Stevenage
she/her
Branwen Mann
Volunteer, Sparkle & Ignite Watford
She/Her
John Mercer
Volunteer,
Ignite Stevenage
He/Him
Daniel Donovan
Volunteer, Sparkle & Ignite Watford + Wednesday Night Project
He/Him
Josh Lee
Volunteer, Sparkle & Ignite Hemel
He/Him
Hannah Brownlie
Volunteer,
Ignite Stevenage
She/Her
Tilly Thorpe
Volunteer, Sparkle & Ignite Hemel
She/Her
Georgia Leonard
Volunteer, Sparkle Watford
She/Her
Jamie Kavanagh
Volunteer, Sparkle Watford
He/Him
Rikki Dunn
Volunteer, Sparkle Hemel
She/Her
James Rixon
Volunteer, Sparkle Hemel & Ignite Stevenage
He/Him
The Board
Kat Rogers
Chair of Trustees (She/Her)
Jeremy Freeman
Trustee (he/him)
Fiona Hayes
Trustee (she/her)
Debbie Brown
Trustee (she/her)
Tejneet Selhi
Trustee (she/her)
Ben Darmanin
Trustee (He/Him)
Sarah Ackland
Trustee (She/Her)
Naomi Haynes
Trustee (She/Her)