MICHAEL MCCARTHY DIRECTOR

Studied Music at Birmingham University and Postgraduate Theatre Studies at the Sherman Theatre, Cardiff University. I co-founded Cardiff New Opera Group with Michael Rafferty in 1982 and this led to the creation of Music Theatre Wales in 1988. Alongside MTW, from 1998-2012 I was Artistic Director of Operatoriet - the contemporary opera studio for Norway, and from 2007 – 2012 I was Dramaturg for FIVE:15 - Operas Made in Scotland for Scottish Opera. In 2012 I led the Opera Creation Academy at the Festival d’Aix-en-Provence. In the 1980s I was revival director for The Fires of London, the company led by Peter Maxwell Davies.

I have directed over 40 contemporary operas, including almost all of MTW’s productions. Other productions include large-scale outdoor stagings of Tosca and Nabucco, and productions of La Traviata, Cosi fan Tutte, Il Re Pastore, Fidelio and Don Giovanni. Also, Cinderella by Peter Maxwell Davies for WNO and S4C Television, The Lighthouse for BBC2 TV, The Forbidden Hymn - a community opera in the South Wales Valleys and The Feast of the Pheasant for Glasgow 1990.

I was awarded Best Director at the Wales Theatre Awards for my world premiere production of The Trial by Philip Glass in a co-production by MTW and the Royal Opera House. My production of Greek won Outstanding Achievement in Opera at the TMA Awards. I was awarded an MBE in 2016.

ELAYCE ISMAIL ARTISTIC ASSOCIATE

I grew up on the Isle of Wight and in London, where I’m now based, and work throughout the UK and internationally as a freelance theatre and opera director, and dramaturg. Alongside freelancing, I have also been Associate Director at Northern Stage in Newcastle, Resident Director at the National Theatre Studio, an Associate Artist of Boundless Theatre, and currently, Head of New Work (maternity cover) at the Donmar Warehouse.

I began my theatre career as an actor and producer, having studied French and Italian, and then Film at UCL. I later trained at LISPA on the post-graduate ‘Creating Theatre and Performance’ course, which follows a Jacques Lecoq pedagogy rooted in devising and ensemble theatre-making. This has hugely influenced the way I make my work, which is collaborative, ensemble-driven and interdisciplinary – spanning text, performance, puppetry, movement, film and music.

I’m really excited to join MTW as the Artistic Associate leading on New Directions as it is a wonderful chance to work with a wide range of artists, and think imaginatively about the future of opera.

Kathryn Joyce General Manager

Kathryn has a wealth of experience in leadership, administrative and project management roles in the arts, charitable and education sectors. Her roles within the opera sector have included Head of Artistic Management at Welsh National Opera, and Touring, Planning and Artists Manager at Scottish Opera. She has also worked as Music Manager at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama and Coordinator of the Pobl Trust.

In a freelance capacity, Kathryn has worked for a variety of organisations including National Theatre of Scotland, Uproar, Opera21 and, most recently, as Producer of Vale of Glamorgan Festival. She has been a guest speaker for the RWCMD MA Arts Management course and for the Freelancer and Public Sector Pledge Working Group, as well as sitting on panels for vocal competitions, most recently the W Towyn Roberts Prize at the National Eisteddfod.

Kathryn has a passion for talent development, having overseen young artist and talent programmes in the majority of her previous roles, and is excited to join Music Theatre Wales who are dedicated to developing and nurturing talented creators and performers from all walks of life.

Kathryn loves all things admin and enjoys adding her attention to detail, and enthusiasm for streamlined processes, to any organisation. She is a mum to twins, an amateur baker and crocheter, and secretary of the school PTA!

Dylan Jenkins Communications and Marketing Manager

Dylan Jenkins has over 10 years of experience working in music, media, and the arts. In previous roles with BBC Music, PYST, National Museum Wales, and as a freelancer, he has consistently demonstrated his passion for creativity, diversity, and innovation.

Dylan is dedicated to ensuring that people in Wales have the best opportunities to be creative and firmly believes in the positive impact that involvement in the arts can have on people's health and well-being, on communities, and on wider social change.

As a first-language Welsh speaker, he is enthusiastic about ensuring that the Welsh language is equally represented and respected, and while his role at MTW is part-time, he will continue his freelance work in the music and radio world.

Dylan will bring a unique blend of creativity, expertise, and his broad interests to every project, with the aim of leaving an indelible mark on the arts and cultural landscape in Wales.

Jefferson Lobo Music Creator Future Directions

Brazilian-born Jefferson Lobo is a musician, composer and producer living in Cardiff. He has been focusing on futuristic, nature-inspired jazz-funk grooves and is currently releasing new music regularly from his catalogue. Hauntingly sweet harmonies combined with soothing and (at times) witty melodies form the basis for his musical cauldron, which includes styles such as jazz, orchestral, Latin, reggae, futuristic, and world music. He has worked with the theatre company August 012 and with BBC Radio and has written, scored, and arranged music for Butetown Carnival 2020 and 2021, a particular highlight being his transatlantic piece Zamba, commissioned by Butetown Arts & Culture Association.

Robert Fokkens Music Creator Future Directions

Robert Fokkens is a South African composer based in the UK. His work explores a range of influences from traditional South African music to 20th- and 21st-century experimental music, via jazz, electronic dance music and the classical canon. In past seasons, Robert’s work has been performed in major venues in the UK (including the Wigmore Hall, Purcell Room and Royal Festival Hall), South Africa, Australia, the USA, Japan, and across Europe. His opera ‘Bhekizizwe’ will tour Wales this Autumn.

Jain Boon Project Facilitator and Workshop Leader

Jain Boon (she/her) is an award-winning Trauma Informed theatre professional with over 35 years of experience of co-producing theatre that places people’s experience of adversity and trauma centre stage with the aim of reducing stigma and isolation. She is passionate about the democratisation of mental health and wellbeing and believes that the arts create a space for connection and healing.

Jain is Co-artistic Director, alongside Matilda Tonkin Wells, of a new trauma informed dance theatre company called thisPLACE.

She trained at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama where she now Tutors for the Young Actors Studio.

Jain has a background in theatre in education and community theatre and was Associate Director of Gwent Theatre, a company she worked with for 20 years.

As a freelancer, Jain has many years of experience leading on theatre and creative projects. She has worked with the Wales Millennium Centre, National Theatre Wales and National Youth Theatre Wales and continues to work with Music Theatre Wales, Re-live Theatre, Sparc Valleys Kids and Hijinx Theatre; she is a Creative Agent and trainer for Arts Council Wales’s Lead Creative Schools Scheme. She is also a trainer and consultant for the ACE Support Hub Wales.

In 2021, Jain was a judge for the Practising Well Awards for the Culture, Health and Wellbeing Alliance and runs creative reflective practice sessions for WAHWN (Wales Arts Health and Well-being Network).

Jain is also a member of the steering group for Youth Arts Network Cymru.

Jain is an advocate for the LGBTQ+ community and in 2019 she was included on the Pinc list of the Most Influential LGBT+ People in Wales.

She is currently training as a Somatic Experiencing Practitioner. SE is a pioneering body-oriented approach to the resolution and healing of trauma.

Mae hi’n dysgu Cymraeg.

Lleucu Meinir Future Directions: Filmmaker

Photographer, filmmaker and activist for change through the arts. After 15 years in the broadcast industry, Lleucu moved back to west Wales with a young family. She’s been working as a portrait photographer and a freelance filmmaker. Since moving to Llandysul, Ceredigion, in 2017 she has been an active agent for change in her local community helping to plant a church (Ffynnon), establishing a food bank with local Christians and developing Plethu, which is a community arts movement with its focus on Welsh culture, well-being and mental health. She’s a mother to four gorgeous children, one dog, two cats and four chickens.

Catrin Slater Fundraiser

I grew up in south Wales and studied English at Cambridge. My first job was at Glyndebourne where I became interested in fundraising and I was then Development Manager at Wigmore Hall, before moving back to Wales in 2005. I founded Mid Wales Music Trust in 2009 to address the limited provision of live classical music in Powys, and developed a multi-partner programme that delivered music and design workshops together with performances and instrumental taster sessions for schools across the county. As a freelance fundraiser and administrator I’ve worked for organisations including Brecon Cathedral, Peak Cymru, Brecon Baroque Festival and Hay Festival, and was a Trustee then Chair of Sinfonia Cymru, Wales’s innovative orchestra for young professionals from 2014 – 2022.