DARE TO CREATE
OLDHAM ARTS FESTIVAL
THE TEAM 2025
MIRANDA PARKER
Co-artistic Director & Director in Residence
Where are you from?
I'm a Royton girl!
What's your role?
I’m one of the Artistic Directors of Dare to Know Theatre. Which means I get to direct a couple of the productions... plus take the rubbish out at the end of the day!
What drink should everyone buy you?
Cider... or larger... or wine... or gin... or anything, mood depending!
JAKE TALBOT
Festival Director & Co-Artistic Director of DTK
Where are you from?
Born on Sholver, Made in Moorside
What's your role?
Ermmmm, that's a good question. I spend a lot of time putting out fires. If you've spoken to anyone from Dare to Know Theatre, it's probably been me at the other end. Basically I do what Miranda tells/ shouts at me to do.
What drink should everyone
buy you?
Guinness & Baby Guinness = Dream Round
CATHERINE SHARP
Festival Manager
Where are you from?
I lived in Shaw for over 20 years, now I live just over the border, but I spend a great deal of my time at Playhouse 2 in Shaw where I act, direct, run the youth theatre and, generally, do a bit of everything.
What's your role?
My official title is Festival Manager, so overseeing the general organisation of the festival. But we're all chipping in with anything that needs doing - from moving chairs to sound technician!
What drink should everyone buy you?
As sad as it sounds, a Diet Coke! Oh go on then, I'll have a dry cider! 😂
JESS LAWRENCE
Festival Producer
Where are you from?
Shaw
What's your role?
My role as producer for the festival has meant making a ridiculous amount of availability forms and spreadsheets, some pretty posters for social media, looking after my two little best friends in rehearsals and generally just making sure everyone is okay with what they are doing!
What drink should everyone
buy you?
Rose wine pls with ice
LEWIS BAILEY
Production Manager
Where are you from?
I'm actually from Middleton - probably the only one who's not from Oldham
What's your role?
I organise and set up all the sound and lights and anything else that involves a bit of tech. I'm usually seen in all black in the back of a room stressing out.
What drink should everyone buy you?
Probably anything that's got alcohol in it
SUNNI SYAL
Front of House Manager
Where are you from?
I'm afraid I've defected from Salford for the Festival 😂
What's your role?
Bit of general all round assistant helping with anything FOH or volunteer based
What drink should everyone
buy you?
Could be anything from a lager, wine, or Aperol Spritz, dependant on time, weather and happy hour pricing!! 😂
AMELIA HALL
Volunteer Co-ordinator
Where are you from?
Failsworth
What's your role?
Help recruit volunteers and sharing Front of House knowledge from a few years of working for theatres.
What drink should everyone buy you?
Lemonade