Join us for an exciting Midlands Social, presented by Producer Gathering in collaboration with China Plate and Fierce Festival. This event is designed for early-career, mid-career and independent producers passionate about driving change in communities through the arts and sustaining international relationships.
Event Highlights:
- Panel Discussion: “Changing the World One Show at a Time” — explore how producers can make a difference through their work, advocating for and implementing social and environmental change.
- Provocation Session: Dive into the challenges and opportunities of sustaining international relationships as producers, aligning with the theme of Fierce Festival
- Q&A sessions: Come prepared with those burning questions for our guest speakers!
- Networking Opportunities: connect with like-minded producers, artists, and industry professionals.
Guest Speakers:
Panel Discussion – Changing the World One Show at a Time
Moderator
Raidene Carter – (she/her) – has been a cultural leader and creative producer for over 20 years. In this time she worked for Talawa Theatre Co., the Lyric Hammersmith, Birmingham REP, the Albany, Deptford, and Theatre Centre, before taking up the role of Executive Producer (Cultural Programmes & Live Sites) for the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games. Here, she led the Birmingham 2022 Festival, the 6-month festival of creativity wrapped around the Games, oversaw the city Festival Sites and delivered the Prize Medal design and fabrication project. Following this, Raidene became Creative Director for Birmingham Festival 23, is a free, 10-day celebration of Birmingham’s creativity and culture, marking the one-year anniversary of the Games. She is currently Artistic Director and Co-CEO of Artsadmin, which runs Toynbee Studios and produces a range of hyperlocal and international artists projects, and artist development initiatives.
Raidene is a proud trustee for China Plate Theatre Company and Open Theatre and an Honorary Fellow of the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama.
Panelists
Ed Collier (him/he) is one of the founding Co-Artistic Directors of China Plate Theatre, a theatre-producing and development company based in Birmingham operating nationally and internationally. Specialising in supporting the work of independent theatre makers, Ed has produced a wide range of work from main house touring to village halls, from the Edinburgh Fringe to the John F Kennedy Centre in Washington DC. Prior to setting up China Plate Theatre, Ed was a Producer with Fuel Theatre, at the Lyric Hammersmith, and produced work with Pentabus and Unlimited Theatre.
Adaya Henry (she/her) is the Artistic Director of Women & Theatre (W&T), leads the organisation with a focus on amplifying the voices and stories of everyday people, especially those from underrepresented communities who have little access to the arts. Her work is underpinned by a belief in theatre’s transformative power, both for individuals and society at large. By creating meaningful connections through storytelling and performance Women & Theatre remains committed to its community-driven approach, using the arts as a tool for social engagement and empowerment.
Tara Lopez – Tara is a Director of Participation at Nottingham Playhouse. Tara has worked in and around the arts and cultural sector across the Midlands for the past 10 years, with a particular focus on children and young people, participation and community projects. She brings with her a strong passion and experience for diversity and inclusion, having led various projects and initiatives aimed at addressing underrepresentation in the sector and engaging with various different community groups. Recent projects have included the wrap-around and engagement activity linked to Nottingham Playhouse production ‘Punch’ and prior to her role here, she led ‘Critical Mass’ – a mass participation project integrating an inclusive cast of young people into the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games Opening Ceremony.
Elizabeth ‘Zeddie’ Lawal – Elizabeth Zeddie Lawal is an award-winning creative producer, theatre maker, facilitator, and co-founder of More Than a Moment, a createch agency dedicated to innovation. Passionate about leveraging creativity, technology, and innovation, she strives to make the 21st century a fairer, more equitable, and beautiful world. She is currently the performing arts producer for the cultural programme at the University of Oxford. Her contributions have earned recognition from the Birmingham Mail’s “30 Under 30” in 2018, The Stage 100 in 2021, and she was a finalist for Woman of the Year in 2022 and Birmingham Entrepreneur of the Year in 2023. In 2024, she received the Potential Unlocked Award. Elizabeth also serves on the board of Birmingham Hippodrome and Tech WM.
Panel Discussion – Sustaining International Relationships as Producers
Moderator
Karl Taylor (he/him) is a producer and curator for live art and contemporary performance. He currently works as Organisational director of BUZZCUT, an organisation supporting the development and presentation of radical performance in Scotland, & Festival Manager for Take Me Somewhere international performance Festival. He undertook the Artsadmin Producing Traineeship in 2014, and subsequently worked as a access manager for Liberty Festival of Disability Arts & producer for Ailleurs En Folie Londres for Mons European Capital of Culture. He has also produced the work of independent artists such as Lucy McCormick, Tania El Khoury & Scottee, codeveloping projects & managing tours across the UK, Australia, Europe & North America.
Panelists
Dan Kok – (he/him) is a producer and programmer working in contemporary performance. Currently, he is the International Partnerships Programme Lead at Bradford 2025, UK City of Culture. Previous to that he worked on freelance projects which included Another Route, an Arts Council England, British Council and Jerwood Arts funded a programme to support England-based artists to internationalist their practice.
Valentina Vela (she/her) is a creative producer, currently Senior Producer for Artist Development and Programming at Sadler’s Wells. She has worked as a teacher, project manager, artist, and producer in freelance and full-time roles within universities, start-ups, and alongside performance artists. Valentina is interested in projects and programmes that remove barriers to the arts sector and dream new ways of being together. You can find her at @vvelagiraldo
Who Should Attend?
This event is ideal for producers looking to expand their networks, share knowledge, and explore new ways to make an impact through the arts. Whether you’re already established or just starting out, this gathering offers valuable insights and connections.
This is a free event. However, spaces are limited! Register via our sign-up link to attend!
Travel bursaries are available; please email producergathering@marlboroughproductions.org.uk.
Live Transcription of the event will be available after the event on our website as a resource to access.
If you have any access requirements that you would like us to be aware of to enable you to attend and take part in this event, please let us know producergathering@marlboroughproductions.org.uk
We look forward to welcoming you to this inspiring and impactful event.
Event Partners:
- Producer Gathering: An initiative led by Marlborough Productions, fostering a supportive network for producers across the UK.
- China Plate: Advocates for a people-focused approach in the arts, opening up the way performance is made, who makes it and who it’s experienced by while advocating for a people-focused approach and working with creative communities outside and within the arts.
- Fierce Festival: Birmingham’s leading international festival of live art, celebrating diverse voices and challenging the status quo.
Registration:
Spaces are limited! Register now via Eventbrite to attend.