Corinne Kilvington
Corinne Kilvington is Artistic Director and founder of Theatre Space North East (TSNE), a Sunderland-based Community Interest Company dedicated to making theatre accessible, inclusive, and deeply rooted in the communities it serves. A graduate in Drama from Northumbria University, she has further honed her practice working with the National Theatre’s Connections Programme and the Royal Shakespeare Company, where she served as a Director Mentor for the Playmaking Festival. She is currently part of the first ever cohort of the CLORE Leading Social Change programme, with The Gradel Institute of Charity, New College, Oxford, having already completed a short CLORE social leadership programme. This exciting training is shaping her vision as a leader in the arts, and the wider work of the third sector.
Corinne’s directorial work blends bold reinterpretations of classic texts with immersive, site-responsive theatre, as well as working with communities to share their stories in a dynamic and accessible way. Her recent acclaimed productions include Titus Andronicus, reimagined for the digital age, exploring augmented reality, ethics, and identity, and The Taming of the Shrew, set in a glossy, “insta-perfect” world critiquing beauty standards and performative masculinity. Both were praised for their innovation, relevance, and respect for Shakespeare’s originals.
Under her leadership, TSNE has grown into a nationally recognised company, winning Theatre Company of the Year (NPO) at the North England Prestige Awards. She brings world-class practices to the North East, challenging the London-centric focus of UK theatre, while championing collaboration, accessibility, and wellbeing, particularly for marginalised communities.
Her lived experience of chronic pain (fibromyalgia and endometriosis) informs her compassionate and pragmatic approach to work and management. Outside the rehearsal room, Corinne enjoys travelling in her caravan, time with her dog Bailey Ray, and, famously, a good snack.
Meet the team
Jamie Brown
Hailing from Gateshead, Jamie trained at Bretton Hall (Acting, 3-years) and has worked in the performance industry since 2006. Acting highlights include originating the roles of Harry Clasper (Hadaway Harry - Theatre Royal, London, NE tour) and John Simpson Kirkpatrick (The Man and The Donkey - Customs House) for which roles, he was named Performing Artist of the Year at the North East Culture Awards. He also originated the role of Jack Ford in the premiere stage adaptation of TV classic ‘When The Boat Comes In’, and has established an extensive body of roles with many theatres and companies across the region - not least Theatre Space North East, where he is creative producer among other things. Elsewhere, he has done stints with Warner Brothers, the BBC, and the Royal Opera House amongst many others - in roles ranging from Hamlet right through to Scooby-Doo - as well as gaining acclaim as a director (Girl in the Machine, Bobby Robson Saved my Life, Geordie the Musical), and being a company director of 1623 Theatre Company. Full info and credits can be found at www.jamie-brown.uk
Ruth Hardy
Ruth Hardy is Finance Manager at Theatre Space North East, where she also leads on fundraising and development. With more than 25 years of experience in administration and accounts, she brings a wealth of financial expertise and practical knowledge to the organisation. Professionally qualified to Level 4 Professional Diploma in Accounting with a background in Business Administration, Ruth is currently looking forward to expanding her professional development through further training.
Before joining TSNE, Ruth worked across a diverse range of sectors, from public sector, construction, commercial and business support, but enjoyed most her not for profit work, including with an adoption charity, Groundwork (an environmental charity) and many others in a voluntary capacity. This breadth of experience has given her a strong grounding in managing complex budgets, ensuring compliance, and building financial resilience across different organisational contexts.
At TSNE, Ruth has combined her professional skills with a passion for creativity. She is proud to have developed new collaborations with voluntary sector organisations, strengthening the company’s community impact, and enjoys contributing ideas to the design and delivery of new projects. Her approach to finance is detail-driven and meticulous—colleagues know her well for her relentless pursuit of receipts—but always underpinned by a collaborative spirit that ensures the finance function supports artistic ambition.
Ruth is passionate about ensuring that arts organisations like TSNE are not only financially sustainable but also able to thrive through innovation and community connection. Outside of work, she loves animals, enjoys sea swimming, follows football, is passionate about the environment and quality food choices, loves being with children and allowing them to express themselves creatively. She recently enjoyed being part of a community theatre project where her passion for writing was reignited and was even persuaded to take to the stage.
Sarah Simpson
Sarah Simpson is the Community Engagement & Education Lead at Theatre Space North East (TSNE), where she leads innovative education projects and community programmes that bring theatre, storytelling and Shakespeare into schools and young people’s lives across the North East.
Sarah studied English Literature and Theatre Studies at Leeds University and went on to complete a PGCE in English at Durham University in 2015. More recently, she earned a Master’s degree in Shakespeare and Education from the University of Birmingham taught in partnership with the Shakespeare Institute and the RSC which strengthened her ability to use active rehearsal-room strategies in teaching and reinforced her belief that Shakespeare is “not of an age, but for all time.”
She began her career at Nunthorpe Academy teaching English and Drama. In 2017 she moved to Cundall Manor School in North Yorkshire, progressing through roles including Teacher of English, Acting Head of English, and then Head of Seniors. Over her teaching career she has a consistently high track record of excellent results at GCSE with positive value added scores for both English Literature and English Language. She is also an exam marker for AQA English Literature GCSE so is very familiar with the exam requirements allowing her to weave exam insight into her workshops with schools, supporting teachers in their delivery of the curriculum.
At TSNE, Sarah is passionate about projects like the upcoming Wraparound Shakespeare, which offers free active-learning workshops in Sunderland schools, and the Youth Theatre, where she has expanded membership and supported young performers to stage productions at the Royalty Theatre. Pastoral care is often at the centre of her work and her approach is nurturing and caring, but she sets high standards and has high expectations of the pupils that she works with, encouraging young people to reach their full potential.
Originally from Middlesbrough, Sarah is a new mum to her daughter Nora. Outside work she loves swimming in the sea (often at Runswick Bay), is passionate about astronomy (she’s volunteered at Kielder Observatory), and enjoys spending time exploring the night sky.
Rebecca McClelland
Rebecca is an actor, facilitator and singer from Middlesbrough.
The taming of the shrew is Rebecca's fourth show with theatre space after playing Rosalind in As You Like It last summer and touring both of theatre space's TIE shows, Josh Green and Why Queue, for two years running. Due to all the touring, Rebecca is currently insured on the Theatre Space van. So, if you see the theatre space van out and about, that will be Rebecca at the helm.... but if you see it mounting curbs and bumping onto lampposts..... no you didn't......
Other projects include The Lipsticks (Charm Productions), Public Record (Public Acts), Act (Boiling Point Theatre), Defeat the Cracken (Theatre Hullabaloo).
