ABTT welcomes two trustee-directors

The Association of British Theatre Technicians (ABTT) has appointed two new trustee-directors to its council.

Director of technical production at the Southbank Centre, RUTH BUTLER, and technical director at the Young Vic, KAT ELLIS, will both be joining the council.

They will take the positions of two long-standing members, senior lecturer at GSA University of Surrey, MIG WALSH, and director of technical, production and costume at the Royal Ballet and Opera, EMMA WILSON, who have stepped down after serving the maximum term permitted.

Butler leads a team of over 50 technicians to deliver around 3,000 events a year at the Southbank Centre and was previously the head of technical and production at the Roundhouse.

Meanwhile, Ellis oversees main-house productions at the Young Vic and has also worked in stage management at festivals such as Glastonbury and Reading, as well as production management at The Old Vic.

They were both welcomed by ABTT CEO LIZ SILLETT at the ABTT general meeting on 7 July.

Butler said: “It is a privilege to work alongside such a distinguished group of professionals, and I look forward to contributing to the ongoing work of the association – strengthening our community, advancing safe practices and expanding access to high-quality training.”

“I am excited to get going with improving the services it provides to all who work across technical theatre and to help bring the industry closer together,” added Ellis.