Blue Apple staff team
Richard Conlon, Artistic Director
Richard Conlon has been Artistic Director of Blue Apple Theatre since the summer of 2016.
Previously he has run his own small-scale touring company, worked for theatre companies and arts development agencies. He has been a writer and director, a producer and workshop leader – most often in collaborations.
Richard has been directing and writing plays since his experiences with a youth theatre in the 1980s. In his work with Blue Apple Richard tries to marry the simple idea of entertaining an audience whilst saying something complex about who we are, where we have come from, where we are going and how we live together.
Richard remains doggedly committed to the notion that producing art together makes the world a better place and make us all more well-rounded human beings. He enters every creative process on the understanding that he will learn as much as everyone else in the rehearsal room.
Elisabeth Yeats-Brown, Administrator
Elisabeth Yeats-Brown joined Blue Apple in 2013.
Elisabeth has a background in arts administration. She started her career working for the auction houses Christie’s and Sotheby’s followed by a year at The Royal Academy.
On moving to Hampshire with her family she worked with her husband for ten years setting up a photographic business.
Elisabeth has an interest in working with adults with a learning disability having retrained as a special needs teacher. She has enjoyed being a part of Blue Apple as it has grown and moved to its current location at the University of Winchester.
Elisabeth lives locally with Lyra (the Blue Apple office dog). She enjoys all sports, especially cycling, and all things Italian.
Ken Parry, Finance & Resources Manager
Ken Parry joined Blue Apple in 2018.
Ken initially had a 20-year career as a theatre lighting designer and technician before moving into arts management and dance development.
He worked for Hampshire Dance for 13 years until its closure in 2015. He then concentrated on finance and joined the staff of Play to the Crowd in 2017.
He also provides finance support for Making Space for Crafts. In his spare time, he is actively involved in Chichester & District Archaeological Society and is their Treasurer.
Rebecca Godden, Associate Director
Rebecca Godden joined Blue Apple in 2021 in a newly created role of Outreach Coordinator.
A year later she took on another new role of Associate Director, supporting the Artistic Director. Rebecca also facilitates the Blue Apple Special Assignments Company and Wednesday’s Stage Company.
Rebecca is an experienced multi-disciplinary practitioner of performing arts, communicating her talent and passion for the arts across varied platforms within theatre, education and the community across the country. She studied Contemporary Performance at The University of Winchester and holds a First-Class BA honours degree. Rebecca specialises in Devised Theatre and has collaborated with many artists and companies within the industry. Organisations and companies, she currently collaborates with include, Equity, Birmingham Stage Company, Ambassador Theatre Group (ATG London and Regional), Pineapple Dance Studios, Boo Productions and The Point Theatre in Eastleigh.
Pip Armitage, Communications Manager
Pip Armitage joined Blue Apple as Communications Manager in January 2021.
After reading Philosophy at Cambridge, Pip’s career started in the London ad agency world, initially in client management and subsequently in strategic planning for a range of national and international clients at Ogilvy & Mather Direct and Evans Hunt Scott. This involved commissioning consumer research, analysing data and informing the creative development process.
More recently she has developed digital and website skills at a carers project within Southampton Mencap and at an international software company.
Outside of work Pip has a long history of trusteeship and was also a school governor. She now spends her spare time with her family and rescue dogs.
Below, our office dog, Lyra, who works hard to keep everyone happy.
