Meet The Trustees

These fabulous people here are our Board of Trustees - they oversee the running of the society and a more committed group, you couldn’t meet.

They all put 110% into making every show a success and you’ll find them both on and off the stage in various guises.

President | Marje

Marje has been a member of StAMP for many years! Marje will be one of the first people you see if you come and watch us perform as both she and her husband Dave work Front of House - welcoming our audience in with a smile.

Marje became President of StAMP in 2017.

Chair | Neil

Role

The role of the chairman is a leadership position with several key responsibilities. Neil presides over meetings, ensuring they run smoothly and efficiently, maintaining order, facilitating discussions and giving everyone a chance to speak. He may be required to act as the face of the organisation, representing StAMP at public events and meetings with stakeholders, such as Lowther Pavilion and the rights holders. It is his job to ensure that the Trust works cohesively and may be called upon to mediate conflict. In his capacity as Business Manager, Neil negotiates and is responsible for signing the contracts and nurtures relationships with the technical staff at Lowther and the Set Builders at Junction 4 to ensure the smooth running of our productions.

About Neil

Hailing from London, Neil became involved with StAMP back in 2000 when he moved to the area, following his marriage to Jo.

Originally joining the backstage crew, he was finally persuaded onto the stage in 2009 for their production of Anything Goes, in which he took the lead role of Billy Crocker.

Although he was most definitely happiest backstage, he remained a part of the cast until 2024, when he finally took a break and, instead, ran the audio tracks for the sell-out run of Beautiful.

Neil was appointed Chairman at the AGM in November 2012.

Vice Chair | James

Role

As implied from the title, the role of Vice-Chairman is to assist the Chairman, stepping in to the chairman's shoes if and when he is unavailable, which is an important role in itself. In addition to this, James has a vital role as one of the Production Liaisons, cultivating great working relationships with the Production Team, ensuring the smooth running of rehearsals and working with them to help create their vision. This often entails finding solutions to the many problems that can arise, with James's speciality being able to come up with alternatives to stage design issues whilst still meeting the director's requirements, thereby keeping everyone happy.

About James

James joined StAMP in 2015, playing Mr Snow in Carousel, a role which led to a NODA nomination for Best Newcomer. He has since played Gilbert in Betty Blue Eyes, Badger in Wind in the Willows, Chitterlow in Kipps: The New Half A Sixpence Musical, numerous roles in pantomimes, including an award-winning performance as Robin Hood and most recently as Barry Mann in Beautiful.

James has been singing since the age of 8 and has made many public performances as a singer in rock bands and other vocal groups - he is part of the Brothers of Swing duo and the Last Orders Pub Party which see him travelling up and down the country each weekend.

James not only enjoys his role as Vice Chairman but he is our set designer too! He can often be found doodling new ideas or scenery pieces - usually down the side of his script! James loves the family ethos inbuilt in StAMP and enjoys working alongside his wife Dani and performing with his eldest daughter Millie.

Secretary | Janet

Role

The role of the secretary is integral to the smooth running of the Society. Janet is responsible for scheduling and organising meetings, ensuring all materials are prepared and distributed to participants. During meetings, she takes detailed minutes, documenting discussions, decisions and actions and oversees the effective management of important documents such as contracts, correspondence and StAMP's constitution, ensuring that they are accurately maintained and easily accessible. Alongside Yvonne, she ensures that the Society complies with legal and regulatory requirements, keeping the policies and procedures up to date and assisting with all governance matters. Janet is responsible for organising the AGM, keeping accurate records of time served by Trustees, making sure that the nominations are received in a timely manner and elections run smoothly. In her capacity as Production Liaison, Janet works closely with the Production Team, organising, attending and minuting meetings to ensure everyone is on the same page. In addition, Janet takes on the role of Wardrobe Mistress, discussing requirements with the Director, sourcing costumes, liaising with costumiers in a timely manner and organising the rota of dressers for show week.

About Janet

Janet began her theatrical journey at the age of 3, performing in church plays, and continued throughout junior and secondary school. During her lower sixth year, she played Lady Macbeth in her school’s first-ever Shakespeare production. That same year, she appeared in a play at the Library Theatre, Manchester, and joined the Manchester Youth Theatre.

At 15, Janet became a member of the Prestwich Amateur Dramatic & Operatic Society (PADOS), starting as a dancer in Showboat. She performed in many of their plays and musicals until moving out of the district at 23.

Janet’s first show with StAMP was Anything Goes in 1996, and she has been involved in every production since. In 2007, she won a NODA award for Best Costume for Hello, Dolly! (where she also performed). Her last on-stage appearance was in 2009 in Hot Mikado, but she has remained busy backstage.

She has also supported many other societies in the area with costume, including SAPOS, BFLOC, BOPs, Christie’s and PMCS. Janet continues to work on costumes, backstage roles, and lighting while also serving as a Secretary and Trustee since the society became a charity in 2017.

Here’s to many more years at StAMP!

Treasurer | Joanne

Role

The role of Treasurer is vital to the financial health and stability of the Society. Jo is responsible for overseeing the financial activity, including setting the show budget, financial planning and cash management. She maintains accurate financial records, documenting all financial transactions and complying with legal requirements. It is part of her job to prepare regular financial reports for the Trustees and she is responsible for reporting to our regulatory body, the Charity Commission in a timely manner. Jo monitors the budget and reports to the Trust if any issues arise that may have an impact on the accounts. She is also responsible for complying with any financial regulations, implementing internal controls to ensure the integrity of the Society's finances.

About Joanne

Jo’s first show with StAMP was back in 1976 when she was the youngest Snow child in their production of Carousel at Ashton Theatre in St. Annes-on-Sea, joining her dad, Peter Weston, on stage for the first time.

Having headed to London for university and subsequently remaining due to work, she finally returned in 2000, with a husband in tow and a baby on the way. This did not deter her from returning to StAMP in September for their production of Annie Get Your Gun in June, having given birth in the March, again performing with her dad.

Remaining a non-acting member whilst having a further 2 children, Jo returned in 2011 to play the lead character, Babe, in The Pajama Game and has remained an acting member ever since.

Jo was appointed to the Trust in 2017 and became Treasurer at the AGM in November 2018.

Governance | Yvonne

Role

Governance encompasses the systems, processes and policies by which StAMP are directed and controlled and strong governance leads to better effectiveness, outcomes and trust. In her role of Governance, Yvonne is heavily involved in decision-making and accountability, ensuring transparency with clear and open communication. It is her responsibility to make sure that the Society, and the individual members, adhere to both the Constitution, which is StAMP's own set of rules, and the regulations set by our regulatory body, The Charity Commission, holding everyone accountable for their own actions. Yvonne is also the Assistant Secretary, responsible for organising meetings and taking minutes in the rare instance of Janet's absence.

About Yvonne

Yvonne’s family has been associated with StAMP since 1960 when her grandmother started performing and both her parents and stepfather are Life Members.

Although Yvonne only ventured onstage once (for our 1981 production of “Oklahoma!”) she has been a lifelong supporter. She joined the Social committee in 2002 then the General committee in 2003 and served as Treasurer until 2017.

For the past eleven years she has been backstage overseeing the use and care of the scores of props she sources or makes for each of our shows.

Marketing & Publicity Officer | Danielle

Role

Dani, as the Publicity and Marketing Manager, oversees the development and implementation of strategies to promote StAMP, organising marketing campaigns to highlight our current activities and boost engagement with our customers, whether that's promoting our show to boost ticket sales, social events, fundraisers or trying to encourage new members. She monitors the performance of the marketing campaigns, aiming to increase effectiveness and allocating resources accordingly. Dani ensures that all promotional materials align with StAMP's message and incorporate any information that is legally required. She is responsible for liaising with the graphic designer to ensure appropriate artwork and for designing and creating the programme. It falls within her remit to maintain StAMP's public persona, assisting the Chairman in handling any public relations, and, through various marketing channels, Dani enhances the Society's brand and reputation.

About Danielle

Dani has been a proud acting member of StAMP since 2011, when she first appeared as Ado Annie in Oklahoma! Since then, she has portrayed a range of beloved roles, including Sally Smith in Me and My Girl, Carrie Pipperidge in Carousel, and Joyce Chilvers in Betty Blue Eyes, meeting several of her closest friends and now family members - husband James and stepdaughter Millie in the process!

After taking a six-year break to raise two wonderful children, Dani was thrilled to return to the stage as Cynthia Weil in StAMPs sold-out run of Beautiful.

Her contributions have extended beyond the stage, with many behind-the-scenes roles and as a dedicated Trustee for StAMP from 2012 - 2018 and 2022 to present. She is very proud of the work the Trustees do and is looking forward to realising their plans over the next few years.

It’s an exciting time to be part of StAMP!

Welfare & Child Protection Officer | Erin

Role

The Child Protection and Welfare Officer ensures that children within our Society are safe, their rights are upheld, and their well-being is prioritised. Erin, in this role, is responsible for providing support and advocacy for all minors involved with StAMP, ensuring that the safeguarding policies are fit for purpose and are implemented satisfactorily, if required. She assesses potential risks to the children's safety and well-being and reports to the Trust any issues identified. Liaising with Lancashire County Council, applying for performance licences, leading inspection visits, arranging chaperone rotas, maintaining accurate records and completing all the necessary paperwork involved with allowing minors on a stage all fall under her remit. Alongside this role, Erin is also responsible for completing the PRS licence, which is required for each of our revues, and she is Assistant Treasurer, taking responsibility for the finances in the rare instances that the Treasurer is unavailable.

About Erin

Following in the family footsteps, Erin joined StAMP, at the tender age of 13, for their production of Me and My Girl, under the Musical Direction of her grandad and appearing with both of her parents.

She remained an active member of the Society, taking part in all but one show, until she went to study at Italia Conti in 2020. Having graduated in 2023, she remained in London, but has returned to direct and choreograph our 125th Anniversary Revue "A StAMP in Time".

Erin was appointed to the Trust at the AGM in November 2023.

Social Media Coordinator | Anastasia

Role

Anastasia, as Social Media Coordinator, is responsible for managing StAMP's online presence across various social media platforms, working closely with the Marketing and Publicity Coordinator to ensure cohesive and effective social media strategies. In this role, Anastasia oversees the development and publishing of engaging content, in the form of photos and videos, to promote the Society and its events. By coordinating the interaction with followers and responses to comments and messages, she enables the fostering of a positive online community. She assists in executing planned marketing campaigns ensuring the alignment of StAMP's message through authentic and compelling content.

About Anastasia

Anastasia joined StAMP in 2017 and became a trustee in 2020.

She has thoroughly enjoyed her time as an ensemble member, performing in shows such as The Wind in the Willows, Evita, Beautiful, and many more, as well as performing in the annual musical revue.

In 2023, she stepped behind the scenes to direct the revue "Now That’s What StAMP Call Musicals" and is excited to take on future roles both on stage and as part of the production team.

Anastasia treasures the family atmosphere at StAMP and is proud to serve as both a trustee and an acting member, embracing the exciting future ahead!

Events & Fundraising Coordinator | Gaby

Role

The Events and Fundraising Coordinator is Gaby and she plays a pivotal role in planning, organising and executing events and fundraising activities for StAMP. She is responsible for overseeing the development of event plans, including logistics, timelines and budgets and coordinates the recruitment of volunteers to support the events. Working with Dani and Anastasia, Gaby assists with the promotion of the events through various channels such as social media, email marketing and print materials. She oversees the set-up, execution and take-down of events, ensuring everything runs smoothly. After assessing the success of the event and identifying areas for improvement with the other Trustees, Gaby leads the implementation of those improvements for future events. She also helps to identify potential donors and sponsors in an attempt to secure any additional funding.

About Gaby

Gaby’s love for musical theatre started early, taking to the stage at just 4 years old.

She spent her childhood performing in both amateur and professional productions around Blackpool and Preston.

After taking a 6-year break, she found herself missing the buzz of performing and joined StAMP in January 2024 to get back to what she loves. Her first full-scale musical with the company was ‘Beautiful: The Carole King Musical’, which went on to sell-out all four performances.

Keen to give something back to the society that helped her fall back in love with theatre, Gaby was appointed to the Trust at the AGM in February 2025.

Company Liaison | George

Role

George, as Company Liaison, plays an important role in ensuring effective communication and collaboration between the members, the Trust and the Production Team. In this role, George acts as the primary point of contact, addressing any issues or concerns that arise, ensuring smooth and efficient resolution. He endeavours to share any relevant information between the company and the Trust in a timely and accurate manner, building and maintaining strong relationships to foster trust and cooperation. Overall, George ensures that the company's interactions with the Trust and the Production Team are effective and positive.

About George

George has always had a passion for the arts, George started performing when he was 4 years old and has attained a degree in Musical Theatre.

George has performed in many amateur productions across the country and has played roles such as: The Phantom in The Phantom of the Opera, Jean Valjean in Les Miserables, The Tin Man in The Wizard of Oz to name a few.

George joined StAMP for our musical revue "Now That's What StAMP Call Musicals" and took the leading male role of Gerry Goffin in Beautiful: The Carole King Musical and he looks forward to performing in many more.

George joined the Board of Trustees in February 2025 where he was appointed as Company Liaison.

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