ESTHER FERRY-KENNINGTON – Executive Director
Esther joined H+B in 2007 from Oxfam. She is an ex-croupier, a keen singer and a Morris dancer, and probably much more besides. She is often found out and about selling and promoting work to the outside world with a tape measure in her handbag. She now works as Executive Director of the company.
Email: esther@horseandbamboo.org
BOB FRITH – Lead Artist
Bob founded Horse + Bamboo in 1978. Starting out as a visual artist, his performance and theatre work grew from his painting and printmaking. Bob now works part-time with Horse + Bamboo and is currently leading work on the Moonwatcher show. He also works with the Dave Pearson Trust and Apna project in Haslingden.
Email: bob@horseandbamboo.org
PHIL MILSTON – Technician & Facilities Manager
Phil works as part of the Arts Team, looking after and managing the building, and also over-seeing our venue technical systems and advising on lighting and sound in our own productions. He is very much at home working on building and systems management, and so he’s currently very busy managing the capital improvements to the building and upgrading the resources and facilities at the Boo.
Email: phil@horseandbamboo.org
HEATHER WALKER – Book-keeper
Heather lives in Waterfoot and joined us as Bookkeeper in June 2016, having worked for several charities in finance roles. She loves growing things in her polytunnel, making chutney and baking cakes. Of a weekend she can sometimes be spotted playing synthesiser in a local band or out on her mountain bike tackling the hills of Rossendale.
Email: heather@horseandbamboo.org
ELMA IKIN – Administrator
Elma joined the Boo in June 2016. She is a relative new comer to Rossendale, living here for just 12 years! She enjoys yoga, eating cake and reading and, on evenings and weekends, she enjoys running over the local hills.
Email: elma@horseandbamboo.org
ALASTAIR PRICE – Artist in Residence
Alastair is Artist in Residence and a performer. He spent twenty years living in France, but now lives in Rawtenstall. He’s also a member of Cacophany Arkestra a processional carnival arts collective playing soca-style spaghetti western music for the ‘Brexodus’ generation.
RUTHIE BOYCOTT-GARNETT – Baby Boo
Ruthie has been involved in developing our Baby Boo Programme, you may have met her out and about in the libraries and children centres of Rossendale with all sorts of sensory baby fun. When she’s not doing Baby Boo she runs a session called Cello Babies and helps deliver Art Baby at the Whitworth Art Gallery in Manchester and the Bridgewater Hall. In a typical week she meets a lot of babies! When she’s not playing with babies she likes to sing sea shanties.
E: ruthieboycottgarnett@gmail.com
Music Directors
Current Performers and Artists
WE WOULD ALSO LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE FOLLOWING ARTISTS, PERFORMERS AND CREATIVE COLLABORATORS WHO ARE CURRENTLY ASSOCIATED WITH THE COMPANY:
Jonny Quick, Aya Nakamura, Vanessa Card, MJ Deans, Charlotte Dubery, Frances Merriman, Mairi Morrison, Steff Lee, Daniella Orsini, Francesca Dunford, Joanne B Kaar, Ellie Chaney, Chris Spears, Jordanna O’Neill, Maryam Golubeva, Farzana Patel, Rehmat Gangreker, Uzma Kazi, Kain Leo, Alastair Price and Arry Nessa.
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Lynne Farnell (Chair)
David Agnew: Director of The Met, Bury.
Caroline Eccles: Co-Founder of Huckleberry Films, Lancashire
Ayesha Gavin: Founder of Ayesha Communications, Family Programme Representative
Anthony McClean: Aeronautical Engineer, Family Programme Representative
Alex Summers: Associate Director, The Dukes Lancaster
Rosie Scott: Centre Director, The Ted Hughes Arvon Centre
Geli Berg: Marketing Consultant (World Music)
Shalon Miah: Management Consultant