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Arts consultant Laura Drane lists those whove inspired her in the arts.

Nick Bromley
It all started with Starlight Express! Okay, so I was young and impressionable, but Nicks post-show backstage tour was the moment I realised that actors were real people and that there was more to this theatre malarkey than sitting in the audience or acting and singing! I look back at it now as the moment that instilled a sense of wonder in me, particularly about the power of performance. To this day, I know Im seeing something special when I dont sit in my seat picking apart the show thats unfolding in front of me.

Christopher Richardson
When I was a student touting my way around Fringe venues looking for my second summer of work, Christopher gave me my first proper job as Front of House Manager at the Pleasance Theatre in 1997. Taping up thousands of posters, doing silly hours, shouting show announcements over the hubbub of the courtyard, managing long frustrated queues of punters, working with some real old pros, drinking more than was good for any of us it was definitely a formative experience. What I admired was Christophers boundless energy for theatre in general and the Fringe in particular.

Oliver Gray
The founder and Artistic Director of Illyria, Ollie gave me my first full-time job straight out of university producing and tour managing up to three shows at any one time in outdoor venues throughout the UK. Illyrias imaginative and colourful shows gave me the chance to see young and old re-enchanted with Shakespeare, modern classics and well-loved childrens tales. Ollies commitment to the company (financial, personal, artistic) along with his ethos of hard work, imagination and more hard work, was the grounding for the rest of my professional career to date.

Tim Rollins
Seeing him speak about the Kids of survival at the engage conference in Glasgow in 2001, Tim inspired me beyond measure as a young arts professional. Thanks to him I had begun to really understand the transformative power of the arts, both as process and product. And, more importantly, I think he fired me up enough to send me back to my desk with Dick Dastardlys words ringing in my ears dont just stand there, do something! Without him (and the support of my nearest/dearest) I might not have started off on my freelance life, nor ended up particularly focusing on arts education.

Nadine Andrews
Having contributed to projects with her on and off since 2002, Ive got to know Nadine over the last five years. Ive been inspired by her passion and critical approach to her own and others work, as well as her good sense of humour and her common sense. She works hard, gives 100%, and demands the same of others, again something I admire. But the nights that she, Sara Teiger, Sally Fort and I have been out talking and eating/drinking have been some of my best I always connect, learn something, reflect, and laugh a lot!