BHP become Trustee for Theatre Company

4th Mar 2011

Caption: Emma Gaudern on stage with Momo Yeung and Tom the puppet at Darlington Arts Centre

A North East theatre company is receiving a helping hand as a local lawyer gets ready to work behind the scenes.

Emma Gaudern, a partner at BHP Law in Darlington, has become a trustee for the Theatre Hullabaloo, which specialises in theatre productions for young audiences.
“The theatre company contacted BHP looking for trustees for the board and I was keen to get involved and to do something different,” said Emma.
“I have also just recently moved to this area so I thought it would be a good way to get to know people too.”

As a trustee Emma will work with other board members to develop a strategy for the theatre company, which tours for children and families regionally, nationally and internationally.
She will also help with legal advice including terms of business and rights of ownership of plays.

Emma said: “I have never been involved in theatre work before but it’s really interesting. Other people on the board are from a creative background so it is very different to what I do each day.
 

“It’s good to be involved in something creative and artistic and be thinking from a completely different angle.”
 

Theatre Hullabaloo, which is based at Darlington Arts Centre, is currently performing The Night Pirates and is touring around the UK, where it will reach audiences of more than 6,000 children and families.
 

Next summer the show sets sail again with a fortnight at The Unicorn Theatre in London as well as visits to schools and nurseries across the North East.
Creative producer Miranda Thain said: “It is just great having Emma on board. We are not just a theatre company, we are a charity and an employer and we need a broad base of support and expertise for our work.
 

"Emma responded very positively to our request for support and her expertise and enthusiasm will be invaluable. Theatre Hullabaloo believes that children deserve theatre experiences of the highest quality and we go that extra mile to invest in this. We need excellent trustees, staff and artists to ensure we are serving our audiences with work of the highest quality.”
 

Emma added: “It is amazing when I see the children’s faces during a performance. It is like a lightbulb is being switched on. For them it’s interactive and they really get involved; it’s very rewarding.”