Simon Bedford

PAUL KEENE

Paul gave me my first career break after university, offering me an internship at Symphony Hall in Birmingham. Under his supervision I encountered a delightful mix of experiences, from the sensible to the silly, including dressing up as the Phantom of the Opera to promote a concert). Paul’s work made me really appreciate the importance of reaching out beyond traditional audiences and shaping programmes that start to widen engagement with the arts. Nearly ten years later, his advice and encouragement continue to support my development.

SHON DALE-JONES

Shon is Hoipolloi’s Artistic Director. The past six years of working with him and the company have been a blast. Shon has an infectious energy, and his fantastic commitment to taking audiences on exciting, imaginative journeys is a pleasure to share and be part of. Plus the combination of his ambitious vision and a desire to present me with new challenges to overcome keeps me on my toes and constantly furthers my own growth as a producer.

VALERIE

I met Valerie at a focus group of arts attenders in Cambridge back in March. She hadn’t been to any theatre for eight years and had never heard of Hoipolloi or Hugh Hughes. But the following week, she attended every event that we held as part of ‘The Wonderful World of Hugh Hughes’. She is perhaps an odd choice to join a list of gurus, but her inclusion represents our audiences more widely, and is a reminder of the importance of maintaining open dialogue and strong relationships with them. My job is never more fulfilling than when I see an audience full of joy and laughter at one of our shows.

TRISTAN SHARPS

Tristan is the artistic force behind DreamThinkSpeak. Having first encountered his work in 2005, I’ve headed to a fantastically diverse range of spaces – Edinburgh’s Records Office, Liverpool’s Anglican Cathedral and abandoned buildings such as a warehouse and a department store – to seek out his work’s beautiful elegance. Most importantly, it’s the level of attention paid to an audience’s personal journey through the work and its ability to both move me and make me smile that I’ve thoroughly enjoyed being inspired by.

REV CHRISTOPHER BEDFORD

Through Sue Hoyle and Clore, I’ve recently been introduced to the concept of Quiet Leadership. In thinking about my gurus, I sought to find the ‘quiet leader’ who’d had the most influence on my own leadership style. Although I have a challenging relationship with my own faith, my Dad’s dedicated service to his parishioners is deeply inspiring. For example, I’m often in awe of his ability to provide comfort and support for grieving relatives planning funerals, and to lead those in distress through this most challenging of times.