We are delighted to announce the appointment of Oliver Jones as our new Director.

Oliver comes to us from Creativity Works in Bath and North East Somerset, and will take on acta’s new Director post later this month, taking over from Neil in the chief executive role, and working with the existing acta staff team, which includes a new Artistic Directorate.

We have been preparing for a new era of community theatre making since acta’s founder, Neil Beddow, announced that he would be stepping down as Artistic Director. The pandemic has ensured the significance of this year as a new era for us all, but as the vaccine roll out begins, we are excited to welcome Oliver as our new Director for this new era at acta.

“I am very excited to be the new Director of acta which is an organisation I have admired for many years. I am looking forward to working with the acta staff and communities at a time when this type of work is so vital.“
Oliver Jones

“I’m looking forward to working with Oliver and the team over the next few months and am convinced that there is a bright future ahead for this remarkable company. Although it is, of course, a bit of a challenge to be stepping down as the Artistic Director of acta after so many years, it is a lot easier to do so knowing that we have appointed an experienced Director in Oliver Jones.

He is joining a company with a strong, creative and dedicated staff team in place, a well-resourced building, and an international reputation for creating fresh and relevant community theatre.  Even in the face of a global pandemic, acta has shown, again and again, how the work is focused on care, creativity and commitment to our participants. I will certainly keep in touch, coming along to see all the great new theatre the team create, and hopefully be involved in new projects in the future.“
Neil Beddow