Nancy Hirst
Artistic Director
Daniel King
Executive Director
Jemma Robinson
Senior Producer
Chloe Witton
Community Engagement Practitioner
Bex Milner
Creative Engagement Manager
Bethany Green
Creative Engagement Assistant (Maternity Cover)
"Icon has been ahead of the curve in understanding that the arts have a role to play in bringing people together, helping them be heard by telling their own stories in their own way, and in the process creating a sense of pride in place and space"
★★★★ "It is easy to take for granted the acting skills of a top theatre company. But when actors embody characters as superbly as this, you can’t help but notice."
★★★★ “Quite unlike anything you’ve seen before… irresistible… The crowd was rapt throughout.”
★★★★ "A sharp, impeccably performed and blazingly impassioned piece of theatre…simply terrific."
"It has been lifechanging. Lady Unchained has helped get my life changed, I’ve started to look for opportunities on the outside, and see that there is life after prison."
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Bethany is new to ICON and has recently graduated from the Guildford School of Acting with first-class honours, where she studied Applied and Contemporary Theatre. Bethany has previously worked as a guest facilitator and assistant in companies such as Guildford Shakespeare Company and The Butterfly Project, specialising in community theatre and theatre for young audiences. She is also a keen writer and aspires to write plays and musicals with social engagement at its core.
Bex Milner has extensive experience in participatory arts. She holds a Master’s degree in Applied Theatre from Goldsmiths, University of London and has led a wide range of creative projects with children, young people and communities. Her practice centres on co-creation, fostering meaningful connections and empowering participants to shape original work that reflects their voices and experiences.
Bex has worked across educational and community settings, including for organisations such as Half Moon Theatre, Unicorn Theatre, The Old Vic and ThirdSpace. She designs and delivers programmes that support creativity, confidence and wellbeing, and brings a collaborative, participant-led approach to her work alongside experience building partnerships and delivering impactful engagement projects.
Jack has over 15 years of experience in the theatre industry, building a diverse portfolio through involvement in various projects in different capacities. He has extensive expertise in education and participatory work, leading and facilitating projects with a wide range of participants. Jack is deeply passionate about nurturing the next generation of theatre-makers and artists and is dedicated to fostering the growth of the industry. He is thrilled to be joining Icon and looks forward to contributing to the exciting work being produced.
Flo has over 30 years of experience working within the creative sector. She is currently the Learning and Participation Director at Stratford East. Previously she spent over 10 years at the National Theatre working on large-scale community projects. She is committed to working with people of all ages and believes strongly in the capacity of the arts to act as an agency for social change and a powerful form of connection. Her work is underpinned by the values of curiosity, equity, kindness, and joy.
Gemma Cook is currently Development Director at the Almeida Theatre and is a leading UK arts fundraiser, with expertise in trust & foundations and major gifts, bringing strategic insight into campaign-led and target-driven fundraising. Gemma brings almost 20 years’ experience as a fundraiser in the arts & culture sector, with previous roles at the National Theatre and the Donmar Warehouse in London. In her time leading the team at the Almeida, she has led a strategic overview of fundraising to build a successful team to deliver growing financial targets and evaluate how to drive forward successful fundraising opportunities. Gemma is passionate about the next generation of those working in the cultural sector and encouraging major philanthropy in arts and culture and is very excited to bring her expertise to the Icon Board.
Nina is passionate about supporting vulnerable children and young people, promoting their safety, well being, confidence and life chances. Nina has over 15 years experience of working and leading in children’s social services; currently working as Child Safeguarding Lead. Nina was previously the Chairperson of Gurkha Nepalese Community Medway, and BAME Mentor at Kent County Council. Nina is a published researcher and has worked closely with Medway Diversity Forum for over a decade and lately, with Medway Interfaith Action. Nina is an elected Councillor and past Mayor of Medway (2023-2024); her role as the First Citizen actively promoted Medway as a highly positive and inclusive place with immense potential, and equally, recognised all the outstanding work and people who make us ‘Proud To Be Medway’. On 8 July 2024, Nina joined the Cabinet at Medway Council as Portfolio Holder for Heritage, Culture and Leisure.
Jane has a 25-year background in marketing and communications in Arts and Culture, leading large in-house teams and strategic delivery at Sadler’s Wells, Almeida Theatre and The Lowry.
In her marketing consultancy, she collaborates with arts leaders on audience and income strategy, driving organisational ambition via strategic projects and team development.
She is an Arts Council Digital Advisor working with organisations to drive transformational change.
Jane is Executive Director at Alleyne&, a small consultancy delivering organisational development and creating sustainable internal cultures. She is a fellow of RSA, CIM and is currently formalising her coaching qualifications.
Chloe has worked for Icon since 2022, freelancing on various community and young people’s projects, before becoming Community Engagement Practitioner. Before joining Icon, from 2013 Chloe was an agent representing both children and adults. In this capacity, she secured opportunities for her clients across a wide range of media including commercials, feature films, TV and the West End. This role required a deep understanding of the entertainment industry and recognising and nurturing potential in others, something she remains passionate about. In her spare time Chloe is a keen power lifter and hopes to compete in the future.
Tasnim is a British-Bangladeshi artist, writer, critic and theatremaker from East London committed to telling stories that celebrate community, culture and heritage. Growing up benefitting from cultural organisations and theatres, Tasnim is keen to give back and does this through her freelance work with young people and communities as well as through her art. She is also a keen reader and co-hosts the Creative Access Book Club. She is passionate about social justice and as a young trustee of the Global Majority she believes firmly in the value of representation at all levels in order to make better business decisions and creating high quality and world renowned theatre.
Natalie is a trustee for Icon Theatre. She is a script writer who works across theatre, TV and radio. Credits include BBC EastEnders, When They Go Low for National Theatre Connections and The Piper for Radio 4. She is also a skilled community and education facilitator with over fifteen years’ experience for organisations including the Almeida Theatre, Synergy Theatre, Clean Break and Arvon. Having grown up in Medway, she’s delighted to play a role in such an important organisation in the area.
Sophie has been acting as trustee for Icon Theatre since October 2019, using her skills as a Chartered Accountant to provide financial advice and guidance. As an auditor within Grant Thornton’s Not for Profit team working with a number of arts-based clients, and an avid supporter of non-commercial theatre, she has been able to combine her experience and passion for the arts in supporting the exciting and ambitious work for which Icon is known.
Olivia graduated with an MA in 2018 and has since been working in communications roles in the charity sector. As a student, she organised free cultural events and volunteered with young people in Kent, developing their social skills through drama, art and storytelling. She believes the arts belong to everyone. Having grown up in the Swale and Medway towns, she’s proud to shout about Icon’s transformative projects in the area as the team’s Marketing Officer.
Naomi has worn many hats at Icon Theatre! First joining the team as a Theatre31 Facilitator, she has also worked as Assistant Producer of If Not Now in February 2022 through the Creative Estuary’s Emerging Producer placement scheme. Naomi now works across all Icon’s projects as Project Coordinator. Graduating in 2020, she brings a fresh perspective of Applied Theatre, with a passion for putting audience and participant voices at the centre of any practice.
Jemma has a background in dance and theatre, she has produced, commissioned, and toured productions for Sadler’s Wells, Luca Silvestrini’s Protein, and Greenwich Dance. Jemma was also the Theatre Manager and Programmer for University of Hertfordshire. She has a longstanding commitment to homegrown work which is community led. Producing highlights include Invisible Dancing for Hull City of Culture and Tanztheater Pina Bausch World Cities for the 2021 Cultural Olympiad.
Before joining Icon in September 2021, Dan worked in marketing and communications for some of the best-known arts and culture organisations including Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Donmar Warehouse, Roundhouse, Sadler’s Wells, DreamWorks, the Albany and Fun Palaces, and in 2018 was interim Executive Director at Camden People’s Theatre. Outside of work Dan is a Trustee of Kent-based arts organisation Applause and is a keen (slow) marathon and a CrossFitter.
With a passion for arts and social change, Nancy founded Icon Theatre in 2002 to develop quality, accessible and participatory theatre projects and productions. Having trained at the National Theatre Studio, she previously worked as a freelance director on a range of large-scale, community and education projects at Opera North, the Royal Opera House, Yvonne Arnaud, Soho, BAC, Arcola and Young Vic Theatres. Her productions have won Fringe First, Music and Drama Education and Amnesty International Freedom of Expression awards. She is passionate about the transformative personal and social impact of co-created work, and the thrill of large-scale work made by professionals and community together.
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