Associates

Director

Zoe is co-owner of GBA, an executive producer and a creator of International productions and special projects. She started her career working on global B2B events and exhibitions, before she moved to Alexandra Palace. She then worked extensively within some of London’s leading event agencies, before working on London 2012, leading the events division at EMAP and then heading into freelance and special events. Her experience now includes experiential, ceremonies, immersive, theatrical and special projects across the world, recently including the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games Ceremonies and Eurovision 2023. Zoe and Gary met on London 2012 and have been working together on theatrical productions ever since as GBA.

Director

Gary is Director of GBA in the UK and USA. Gary was recently technical director for BBC studios for Eurovision 2023. Last year Gary ran Birmingham Ceremonies, a joint venture with Done + Dusted to deliver the Birmingham Commonwealth Games 2022 Opening and Closing Ceremonies. Gary is the long serving International Technical Director of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child and works as Project Director and consultant for worldwide theatre renovations and complex projects as well as working with producers and world class creative teams to develop and deliver extraordinary productions. Gary is also an independent Governor for the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama.

General Manager

Richard has worked with Gary and Zoe for over 15 years. As the backbone of the company and General Manager, Richard is based in Cornwall and also manages a range of projects in the South West and UK wide. Richard trained at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama. He worked extensively at Southwark Playhouse where he led the team as Technical and Production Manager and then General Manager and his GBA experiences also includes; Asylum for Kneehigh, various productions for the National Youth Theatre, GDIF and London 2012. Richard is trained in IOSH Managing Safely, Emergency First Aid and is a Personal Licence holder.

Production Manager

Erin graduated from the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. Erin’s work for GBA includes projects for Secret Cinema, Coventry City of Culture, New Substance, Crossroads Pantomimes, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Peaky Blinders: The Rise; Kes, Tom’s Midnight Garden and Mythosphere. She was previously Production Manager at Battersea Arts Centre and the Roundhouse, and Deputy Production Manager for Sadlers Wells’ Producing department. Freelance work includes Cave and Assistant Production Manager for Arts Stages at Latitude Festival. Erin is trained in IOSH Managing Safely, Emergency First Aid at Work and holds an IPAF licence.

Production Manager

Andy is a full-time production manager for GBA, based in London overseeing projects throughout the UK and internationally. His specialisation lies in managing technically complex shows, encompassing a diverse range of live-performance genres, from pantomimes to operas and includes work in unusual spaces from carparks to cathedrals. Highlights include productions for Secret Cinema, Punchdrunk, and Kneehigh; a virtual-reality enhanced musical, the UK’s largest drone show, and moving a 10m-high animatronic Bull across Birmingham. His recent work includes new productions of the musicals Wicked and Matilda, both in São Paulo, Brazil.

Production Manager

Following a 10 year career in Stage Management, Oli is now Production Manager across a range of our projects. Oli also ensures the continuity of resources and specialist skills required in the roll out of our events and productions Internationally within GBA Studios. Oli is a RADA graduate in Technical Theatre & Stage Management and holds an IOSH Managing Safely qualification. His GBA portfolio includes Harry Potter and the Cursed Child (London, Melbourne, Hamburg, Tokyo), Dr Who - Time Fracture, Cabaret at the Kit-Kat Club and the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games Opening Ceremony.

Production Support Associate

Spencer graduated from Rose Bruford College and has since had a 13 year career working in Stage Management. He has worked on an array of West End productions, including The Book Of Mormon, Wicked, Shakespeare In Love and Singin’ In The Rain, toured with the international arena show Walking with Dinosaurs and also worked at Canada’s Banff Centre. Spencer is currently studying towards a IOSH Managing Safely qualification and is integral in the management of GBA Studios where he oversees day-to-day operations.

Project Associate

Sophie’s career began in theatre, where she worked backstage at the Birmingham Hippodrome on various touring productions including Miss Saigon, Matilda and Grease. Since then, Sophie worked within one of London’s leading event agencies, on global events for clients including Facebook, Samsung and Heineken. Sophie now assists Gary Beestone and the team across our range of projects. She trained in Production Arts at Birmingham Ormiston Academy and went on to study Creative Events Management. Her GBA highlights include the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games Closing Ceremony and Secret Cinema.

International Assistant Costume Supervisor

Kathryn graduated from the Arts University of Bournemouth with a Degree in Costume for Performance Design. She worked as the Costume Maker and Supervisor for the Winchester Pantomime, before moving to London to work in West End. Kathryn was the trainee costume buyer for the Barbican’s production of Hamlet before joining the costume team of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. She is now the Assistant Costume Supervisor for the International production roll out.

Costume Studio Technician

Vicki graduated from Rose Bruford with a BA in Costume Production. She began her career working in running wardrobe for West End and touring productions including Dreamboats and Petticoats, Panto at the Palladium and The Book of Mormon. After 8 years, she moved into costume making, initially in the tailoring workroom at Glyndebourne Festival Opera for two seasons and then joining GBA in 2018 to work in the Harry Potter and the Cursed Child costume production team.

Studio Assistant

Rosie graduated from University of the Arts London with a BA in Costume for Stage and Screen in 2022. She worked the wardrobe departments of several theatres around Birmingham including The Alexandra Theatre and The Lichfield Garrick Theatre before attending university and completing an internship at Opera Holland Park in 2021. She worked with GBA part time whilst studying and then joined the team full time after graduating