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Lowry Spokespeople
Julia Fawcett, Chief Executive
Julia Fawcett joined The Lowry in June 2002 as Chief Executive and has responsibility for ensuring the operation of one of the largest Millennium funded projects in the UK. Set in the heart of Greater Manchester's waterways, the centre continues to be a catalyst for the wider regeneration of Salford Quays. The Lowry combines three theatres; galleries displaying the works of L S Lowry and other artists; as well as gift shop, restaurants and bars.
Julia joined The Lowry with a wealth of experience in the industry, and impeccable operational credentials. Previously, Julia was Chief Executive of Dynamic Earth Enterprises Ltd – having joined the company in December 1997 as Chief Executive - at the age of 32. Here, she had responsibility for the successful delivery and operation of Scotland’s largest and most exciting new visitor attraction, Our Dynamic Earth, in Edinburgh’s Old Town. This is one of the Landmark Millennium funded projects, and was the first to fully open to the public on 3 July 1999. Since opening, Our Dynamic Earth achieved in excess of 1.3 million visitors and quickly established itself as one of Edinburgh’s ‘must see’ attractions.
Prior to this, Julia rapidly rose through the ranks of Granada Leisure running a number of their commercial attractions.
Robert Robson, Artistic Director
Robert comes from Scotland and studied at Glasgow University and University College, Cardiff. He worked extensively in community theatre and in 1983 became Artistic Director of Cumbernauld Theatre, a multi-purpose theatre presenting a wide variety of work and promoting community involvement. In 1990 he became Festival Director of Mayfest, Britain’s second biggest arts festival, presenting work across all the art forms and programming and commissioning the best international and British work. In 1994, he became first the Theatre Director of His Majesty’s Theatre, Aberdeen and then General Manager of Performing Arts Venues for Aberdeen City Council.
Robert Robson joined The Lowry in 1998 as Theatres Director, responsible for programming the two Lowry auditoria plus additional public spaces including the foyers and open-air plaza. The award-winning programme for these spaces includes the full range of drama, opera, ballet, dance, musicals, children’s shows, jazz, comedy, popular and folk music.
In early 2003, Robert was appointed Artistic Director of the award-winning arts complex for visual and performing arts. Robert now leads on the development of both theatre and exhibition programming, allowing increased integration across the two art forms. “This is a great opportunity to build on our successes and develop the two strands equally. We will maintain our philosophy of delivering a broad range of high quality arts, entertainment and life long learning in a unique environment.”
David Fry, Head of Theatres Programming
Born in Shropshire and raised in Liverpool David studied German and Psychology at Oxford Brookes University and after a period travelling around Europe and teaching began a career in programming in Liverpool where he was General Manager at the city’s Neptune Theatre. He successfully ran the city’s comedy festival in 1996 and positioned the Neptune as one of the country’s leading venues for comedy, music and pantomime. As Director of Programming at South Hill Park Arts Centre from 1998 – 2000, David was responsible for drama, dance, film, visual arts and the Bracknell Festival.
David joined The Lowry as Theatres Programmer in 2000 and is now Head of Theatres Programming, responsible for jointly programming The Lowry’s three theatres - the Lyric (1730 seats) Quays (447) and Studio (140). He was instrumental in The Lowry’s first foray into producing, with a UK tour of Taboo – The Boy George Musical – which, in partnership with Fiery Angel, toured the UK for 26 weeks with a five week run at The Lowry.
Andy Farrell Readman, Head of Community & Education
Andy Farrell Readman is a playwright, theatre director and actor. He trained as an Actor at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama and graduated with many awards. He won the prestigious RTYDS Assistant Director Bursary from Thames Television and became the Assistant Director at The Traverse Theatre in Edinburgh. He went free-lance in 1992 and has worked for Communicado, Tag, The Contact Theatre; As Arts Council Associate Director, The Bolton Octagon, The Liverpool Everyman, The Library Theatre and others.
In 2000 he set up Big Theatre and presented 52 Degrees South a performance to mark the opening of the Imperial War Museum North and the 20th anniversary of Falklands war of 1982. 52 Degrees South won The Manchester Evening News Award for Best New Play in 2002. He has written plays for The Traverse, Tag, The Contact, Walk The Plank, BBC Radio 4 and BBC Radio 3. His has directed community plays for, The Wester Hales Community, The Romily Forum, The Salford Community Play of 1994 and UNESCO. In 2002 he worked with The Home Office, The CRE and Manchester City Council to present Holocaust Memorial Day at the Bridgewater Hall. This was a National Event and he worked with Survivors of the Holocaust and The Holocaust Educational trust. He has lectured and taught Theatre and Acting for the RSAMD, Central School of Speech and Drama, Arts Educational, LIPA, Manchester Metropolitan University School of Theatre, The University of Lancaster. He has an MA in Environmental Art.
In 2004, he was appointed Head of Community & Education at The Lowry, shortly after directing the venue’s community production Love on the Dole. The Lowry’s Community & Education team is committed to working with its local community of Salford and targets local residents both via its core programme of activities and special projects. Andy has pioneered The Lowry Academy, a new initiative comprising a series of practical informal arts workshops to complement the work of the theatres and galleries.
Michael Simpson, Head of Galleries
Michael Simpson has previously worked in three national museums and galleries – The Walker Art Gallery (National Museums Liverpool) as Keeper of Fine Art; The National Museum of Photography, Film and Television (now the National Media Museum) and Imperial War Museum North as Head of Exhibitions. He was also at The Whitworth Art Gallery in Manchester as Curator of Modern and Contemporary Art. He has organised numerous exhibitions on a variety of themes, including In The Mind’s Eye: British Surrealism in the 1930s; The Art of Paul McCartney; and The Greater Game: Sport & War.
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