Meet the Team

  • A smiling elderly woman with short blonde hair leaning against a white wall in a well-lit room, wearing a colorful patterned sweater.

    Julia Sowerbutts

    CEO/ARTISTIC DIRECTOR

    Julia Sowerbutts is Artistic Director & Co-founder of INK. Julia studied at Durham University, London Drama Studio and at UEA, gaining distinction in a Theatre Directing MA. She has worked extensively as an actress, director, and producer and formed INK particularly to enable creatives, whatever their experience.

  • An elderly woman with short gray hair and a warm smile, wearing a dark cardigan and a delicate necklace, standing indoors near a white pillar.

    Jane Zarins

    ASSOCIATE ARTISTIC DIRECTOR

    As former Head of Drama in both Suffolk and Norfolk schools Jane has extensive experience of working with young people. She is a passionate advocate of INK Festival and INK’s extensive work in the community, to engage new writers and promote new writing. The cherry on the cake is getting to direct some wonderful and exciting new work!

  • A smiling man in a navy blue knit sweater outdoors with a brick wall in the background.

    James Christopher

    ASSOCIATE ARTISTIC DIRECTOR

    James Christopher is an Associate Director of INK. Previous lives include film critic of The Times, theatre critic of the Sunday Express, and deputy theatre editor of Time Out.

Ink Patrons

  • Portrait of an older woman with blonde hair, wearing a black top, against a plain gray background.

    Helen Atkinson Wood

    ACTOR

    Helen studied Fine Art at Oxford University. Her breakthrough was with Radio Active on Radio 4 which became the award winning KYTV on BBC2 . She is a radio and TV presenter, travel writer and has been a guest on shows like Have I Got News For You and QI. Helen is probably best known as Mrs Miggins in Blackadder III.

  • A woman sitting on a wooden bench outdoors surrounded by green trees and grass, smiling at the camera.

    Esther Freud

    WRITER

    Esther trained as an actress. Her first novel, Hideous Kinky, was shortlisted for The John Llewellyn Rhys Prize and made into a film starring Kate Winslett. She has written nine novels, most recently, I couldn't love you more. Her stage play Stitchers enjoyed a month-long London run, following a rehearsed reading of a 30 minute extract at INK 2017.

  • Portrait of a man with dark hair styled upward, wearing a black blazer, striped shirt, and silver chain necklace, against a textured background.

    Luke Wright

    POET

    Luke is a poet and theatre-maker. He has won a Fringe First and a Stage Award for his one man verse plays.His work combines political and the personal, and he has performed all over the world.'Human, vulnerable, eminently honest and very, very eloquent" - The Guardian

Three people sitting at a cluttered table, smiling and laughing during a meeting, with papers, water bottles, and office supplies scattered on the table.

TRUSTEES

Chair: Heather Newill 

TRUSTEES: Julia Berry, Ben Elder, Vincent Franklin, Kevin Murphy, Paul Schlesinger AND Julia Sowerbutts

Secretary to the Trustees: Cara Duffy

Behind the scenes

  • Cate Evans

    GENERAL MANAGER

  • Kitty Dunham

    ASSOCIATE PRODUCER

  • LINDA NORRIS WITH Phoebe Segal

    GRANTS TEAM

  • Cara Duffy WITH Susie Kramers

    FUNDRAISING & EVENTS

  • KAREN MAXWELL

    SPONSORSHIP

  • Lena Joffe

    CREATIVES ADMINISTRATION

  • Hilary Garner

    ART CURATOR

  • Dave Hermon

    TECHNICAL DIRECTOR

  • Jelly Creative

    MARKETING, PR & DESIGN

  • Ruth Lewis-Smith

    PRODUCTION ASSISTANT & ADDITIONAL COSTUMES

  • Pauline Wilcock

    MUSEUM/HERITAGE

  • Heidi Gatfield

    ACCOUNTS

  • Andrew wileman

    FINANCIAL ADVISOR

  • Peter Hennem

    INDEPENDENT AUDITOR

  • Origin8 & ett photography

    PHOTOGRAPHER

  • Lee Cockerill

    IT SUPPORT

Get in touch

We are always interested to hear from you with questions, feedback, ideas and support. To contact one of our team please use our contact email or form.

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Contact INK