Isobel Hawson

Isobel Hawson has worked in political, young peoples’ theatre and regional producing theatres, radio and television. She lived and worked in Australia where, at the South Australian State Theatre Company, she was part of a team making new work for young people, including David Holman’s renowned No Worries and The Small Poppies. Returning to England, she joined Theatre Centre, Britain’s longest established young people’s theatre company.

 As a senior officer at Arts Council England she led on theatre policy developments: cultural diversity - Black Regional Initiative in Theatre, aiming at an equitable black and Asian theatre; Eclipse, strategies to combat institutional racism in theatre and, Sustained Theatre, a diverse artist led initiative to transform theatre. In addition, she led on children and young people’s theatre; audience development and, a 3 year initiative to raise the profile of and develop young people’s participatory theatre. She worked across Sweden, Denmark and Norway, sharing strategic developments in diversity and theatre.

As a freelance theatre producer, consultant and Director of On Tour Ltd, Isobel teaches at Central on the Creative Producer’s Course, is an Associate with PACE (Pan-African Creative Exchange) and works with freelance artists and theatre companies including: 20 Stories High, fingersmiths, Kali, Phizzical, Blink Dance Theatre, Vital Xposure and with Hassan at Dervish.