Promotions, New Team Members and New Associate Artists

“We have grown. We have now recruited a new Producer to the team, Erin Connor, who will join Senior Creative Producer Carly McConnell who was promoted in recognition of her skill, talent and experience.  Erin has the ethos and values of Open Clasp in her DNA, it’s like she was made for the company and we are delighted to have her on the team, her craic and her passion.

We are delighted that Zoe Lambert and Christina will be joining our associate team alongside Laura Lindow, Jessica Johnson, Rachel Glover. Zoe and Christina are curious, listen and hear the women.  They are just all-round brilliant facilitators and my absolute ‘go to’ when working with women.” Catrina McHugh MBE, Artistic Director and Playwright

Carly McConnell has been promoted within our artistic team to Senior Creative Producer. The post will continue to drive our award-winning programme and distribution model, with a focus on digital content to respond to and fight injustice.

Carly has worked for the company since 2016. Carly was quick to recognise the opportunities for the company with ‘digital’ which has grown the reputation of Open Clasp in successfully reaching beyond traditional theatre audiences. Carly has produced work in the arts and culture sector for over 10 years in Kent, London, Belfast, and the North East in various disciplines such as outdoor arts, theatre for social change, children and young people and visual theatre.

 “I’m excited and proud to be continuing my journey with Open Clasp, co-creating live and digital theatre with women locally and globally, championing voices that need to be heard.” Carly McConnell

Erin Connor is our new Producer. After completing a BA Hons in Theatre and Performance, Erin went on to do a Master’s Degree in Theatre with a focus on Producing. As a freelance producer Erin has worked for Northern Stage, Curious Arts & Moving Parts Arts. Erin was a cohort member of Open Clasp’s inaugural Workforce Development Programme earlier this year and was the 2019 recipient of the Stage One Bursary awarded to new producers.

“I am delighted to be joining the Open Clasp team in the new Producer role. I have followed the company’s work for years and am so excited to be a part of a team that does such incredible work.” Erin Connor

New Associate Artists: Zoe Lambert and Christina Berriman Dawson

Zoe is originally from Yorkshire but has been based in the North East for 37 years. During that time, she has worked closely with Open Clasp for over a decade as both actor and facilitator on productions such as Twist of Lemon, Rattle And Roll, Swags And Tails and Sugar (for stage and for The Space / BBC Arts) She was a facilitator with Open Clasp on a programme of drama based training for Cleveland Police around the crime of coercive control.

 “I am thrilled and absolutely honored to be an associate artist with the magnificent Open Clasp, what great company I am in!” Zoe Lambert

Most recently Zoe’s credits include Brassed Off at Durham Gala, The Secret Garden for Carole Wears productions, two years with the RSC performing in The Comedy of Errors and A Winter’s Tale. For Live Theatre, Cabaret, Personal Belongings, Tales From the Backyard, Tyne, Rendezvous. For Northern Stage – Threepenny Opera, Wind in the Willows, The Wizard of Oz, The Gamblers. For Northern Broadsides, When We Are Married, The Bells, The Comedy Of Errors, Sweet William. For November Club, credits include Teacups, Zebras and Dancing Kaisers, Operation Pied Piper, Doctor Mullins Anatomy Of The Theatre Royal, Fairytales for Northumberland. Pearl and We love You Arthur for New Writing North. For Bolton Octagon, The Twits, The Firebird and The BFG.

TV and Film credits include- Emmerdale, Coronation Street, Tracy Beaker Returns, The Royal and School For Seduction.

“Christina is delighted to officially be offered an associate artists position with Open Clasp. Christina began working as an actor with company in 2014 where she began the epic journey with the production KEYCHANGE, she then was cast in both RATTLESNAKE and SUGAR. Christina has most recently written ‘STATIC’ with women in Askham Grange Open Prison. She is thrilled to be continuing her career and professional development with the company.” Christina Berriman Dawson

Christina most recently played Heather ‘THE WASP’ and will be appearing as ‘Louise’ in ‘The Hunt for Raoul Moat’ (ITV) her other credits include ‘Gaze’ -(NORTHERN STAGE)  ‘Art of Facing Fear’ (Theatre Os Satyros),  ‘Credit’ (Cap-a-Pie),  ‘Sugar’ (Open Clasp- BBCiPlayer), ‘Goldilocks & the Three Bears’ (QDOS Theatre Royal Newcastle),  ‘Under Milk Wood’ (Northern Stage) ‘Rattlesnake’ (Open Clasp), ‘Beyond The End Of The Road’ (November Club-Tour/SAGE) ‘Key Change’ (New York Theatre workshop, Off Broadway and UK National Tour & Live filming Space/BBC ), ‘Sugar’ (Open Clasp at Live Theatre), ‘5 Dead Nobody’s’ (Customs House), ‘Clothes Swap Theatre Party’ (Forward Theatre & Derby Playhouse), ‘Dolly Mixtures’ (Customs House), Make do and Mend performed at European Parliament, ‘From there to you, from here to me’ (Odd Man Out), ‘Turning Pages’ (Live Theatre), ‘Season Ticket R&D’ (Northern Stage), ‘Prince’, ‘Queen’ & ‘Dandini’ (Tyne Theatre), The Frights (Alphabetti Theatre & Theatre N16 London), Hull’s Angel (Ensemble 52), Gaslight On Grey Street (Theatre Royal Studio), Pied Piper Project & Cautionary Tales From The Trenches  (November Club), Flock (ZENDEH), ‘Dick’ in Dick Whittington & ‘Aladdin’ in Aladdin (Barnsley Lamproom Theatre), The Selkie (Sage Gateshead), The Bodies (Live Theatre), Nowt To Look At (BBC Radio Drama), George Gently (BBC) and feature film The Magdalene Sisters .  Christina is represented by Janet Plater Management.