"Whatever you do, enjoy it. Life's too short not to"

Hometown
Born and bred a Mancunian

What do you do?
Currently I am a consultant working across the arts, mostly in the performing arts.

I do all sorts – taking interim roles when theatres are between CEOs, doing organisational reviews, mentoring, evaluations, business planning – quite a range of work.

I am also the executive director of Skillscene, which is a national body representing most of the major players – both individuals and organisations – in technical live arts. Skillscene’s main preoccupation is to be the brains behind the CPD (continuing professional development) needs of the sector.

How long have you been at it?
I have been working as a consultant since 2002 and working with Skillscene since it began in 2005

What was your very first role in theatre?
I was an usherette at the Royal Exchange in Manchester. I did this on Tuesday and Thursday evenings and at weekends and went to college on Monday and Wednesday evenings to study for my banking exams.

What else have you done in theatre?
So after an initial career in banking (I did qualify!) I moved to the Royal Exchange in 1979 as finance manager.

After five years I went on to become general manager of the Victoria Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent, where I worked alongside Peter Cheeseman and helped him project manage the creation of The New Vic – a £3.2million new build theatre-in-the-round in Newcastle-Under-Lyme.

I remained at the theatre for 13 years moving on to become managing director of West Yorkshire Playhouse.

Have you got qualifications?
Apart from my banking qualifications I studied through the Open Business School to take a certificate in management. I never took a degree and was always concerned that I ought to have some management qualification, though others at the time thought it was a bit unnecessary.

I think it gave me a good theoretical basis on which to develop for the future. Last year I qualified as an assessor. I am still working towards qualifications even now.

What did you want to be when you grew up?
An actor. I had a great teacher at school who was an inspiration. I was hopeless at sciences, maths etc but loved the arts and literature. She totally supported me and had a huge influence on my future career path.

What do you do all day?
It varies enormously. Sometimes I am out and about, meeting people, running meetings, doing interviews. Like at the moment, I’m doing some consultations with colleagues in technical theatre up and down the country, looking at National Occupational Standards and how they can describe what someone actually does.

Other times I sit here in my office at my computer writing up stuff and being on the phone/ skyping.

What’s the best thing about your job?
The people I work with

And the worst?
Motivating myself to get on with typing up reports!

What’s your dream job in theatre?
All the ones I have had. I have been very privileged

Got any wise words for someone who wants to be where you are now?
Identify what it is you want to do. Sort out your strategy and be determined.

Don’t be afraid to move on when it doesn’t feel right for you and above all, whatever you do chose to do, enjoy it. Life’s just too short not to!

Maggie’s website