ABOUT THE TEAM

BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION DIRECTOR

Helen was born and raised in Ardrossan, Ayrshire. She has a long and varied career history and brings numerous skills and talents to the company. A former journalist, her communication skills are excellent both verbally and in writing.

Helen became an administrator for a local charity where she worked for 28 years and during this time obtained a Higher National Certificate in Business Administration. She is proficient in negotiating funding and applications, budgeting, accounts, salaries, PAYE, and NI contributions. She also studied for and obtained an IOSH (Institute for Occupational Safety and Health) Managing Safely Certificate.

Helen did a lot of work nationally for the charity and joined the Directors Group of Scottish Women's Aid which she went on to chair for almost three years. During this time she developed her skills as an employer and ensured smooth running of the organisation.

MARKETING DIRECTOR / WRITER

Neil was born and raised in Dumfries and studied journalism at Napier University. On graduating, he started work at a local newspaper in Ayrshire – and has lived in the county ever since.

He spent 16 years as a sub editor with the Daily Record, working on major national and international stories.

After taking two years out to travel and write, he returned to local newspapers, working as a content editor for the Ayrshire Weekly Press.

Neil is a former chair of the arts company Eye Spy Ayrshire, which honed his interest in local arts and culture. It led to his development of Poetic Justice Productions, alongside Helen Aitken and Steven Duffy.

Neil writes regularly for the company and has tremendous research abilities. His wealth of knowledge on Edgar Allan Poe is the driving force behind Ravenfest, a festival celebrating his life and works.

ARTISTIC DIRECTOR

Steven has worked as a professional actor for more than 20 years, since he trained at Queen Margaret College in Edinburgh. He has appeared in many television programmes (Casualty, Taggart, Out of Hours, Psychos) and television series (Looking after Jojo, Tinsel Town) Films (Split second, Joyeux noel and Small faces, the short film 'Bridge', and most recently 'The Last Bus' with Timothy Spall), Radio productions with the BBC including ‘East of Eden’ and stage plays at the many different venues across the UK. From the Crucible in Sheffield to the Lyceum Edinburgh and live theatre in Newcastle. Also the Lyric Theatre in Belfast and the Oran Mor’s Play Pie and a Pint. Covering many aspects and styles, of theatre from classical to new work and adaptations. Steven has gained invaluable knowledge of the industry both in front of and behind the camera, and has explored many aspects of text, workshop and theatre production.

PRODUCTION DIRECTOR

Jools graduated from Queen Margaret College, Edinburgh and has worked in theatre and events for almost 30years. She has toured Britain extensively with various companies, such as Traverse Theatre, Borderline Theatre, Cumbernauld Theatre, English Touring Theatre, Visible Fictions, SNAP People’s Theatre, Red Ladder and TAG. She was Company Manager on the very first ‘Balamory Live!’ Arena Tour. Jools was also Production Manager for Fringe Sunday for the Edinburgh Festival Fringe for 7years. Event experience includes Edinburgh & Glasgow Hogmanay, BIG in Falkirk, Glasgow Art Fair and The Gathering Clan Pageant. Most recently, Jools has been working on ‘White Gold’ at the Sugar Sheds in Greenock for Iron Oxide and the Opening Ceremony for the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. Jools secretly wants to be a stunt driver!