OUR TEAM
Our aims of achieving a festival in January 2021 has been thwarted by the pandemic, however we are busy making ambitious plans for our return in April 2022. We are big supporters of Coventry’s year as UK City of Culture and are excited by the prospects this will bring for the up and coming artists who call this city home.
JEN DAVIS
(Co-Artistic Director)
​
Jen is a theatre director and producer with a particular interest in new writing and revivals. She is a Junior Associate at the King’s Head Theatre and an Associate Artist with Theatre Absolute.
​
Jen works with writers, theatre makers and performers to produce work which celebrates live performance and reflects the world we live in. Her work is honest, collaborative and open whilst genuinely responsive and representative.
Directing credits include: A Haunting (Belgrade Theatre, VAULT Festival and King’s Head Theatre); (sorry) (Birmingham REP and Assembly, Edinburgh Fringe Festival) Adam & Eve (Hope Theatre) and Cheetah Sisters (Belgrade Theatre and Birmingham REP). Associate directing credits include: Faith (RSC and Coventry City of Culture Trust) Strangers in Between (King’s Head Theatre and Trafalgar Studios).
​
PAUL O'DONNELL
(Co-Artistic Director)
​
Paul is a Theatre Maker, Performer and Producer based in Coventry.
He is proud to be an Associate Artist at Birmingham Repertory Theatre and with Theatre Absolute.
​
Paul has had a successful run with his solo show We’ve Got Each Other; the almost entirely imagined Bon Jovi musical. The show has toured across the UK, Spain, America and Canada and has won two audience awards at international festivals.
​
He is currently creating a new show Dia-Beat-es with support from Warwick Arts Centre, Shoreditch Town Hall and Arts Council England. He is also proud to have contributed Symphony of Us to Coventry's year as UK City of Culture working with Orchestra of the Swan, Daniel Fardon, Tessa Walker, six people of Cov and Coventry Cathedral.
​
Web: www.podonnell2.co.uk
LAURA KILLEEN
(General Manager)
​
Laura has extensive arts administration experience and currently leads Birmingham Theatre in Education Company, The Play House. Achieving an MA in Arts and Project Management from Birmingham City University, Laura has held administration roles at Arts Council England, the National Theatre, Birmingham Repertory Theatre and the international touring company Stan's Cafe.
Laura was a visiting lecturer at Birmingham City University for the Stage Management BA (Hons) course and is a trustee for Spitfire Services in Birmingham and Zest Theatre in Lincoln.
​
SJ WATKINSON
(Associate Producer)
​
SJ is an independent producer based in Birmingham, working with UK/Spanish companies Sleepwalk Collective and Little Soldier, UK/Italian collaboration The Polar Bear, Birmingham based physical theatre company Altered Skin and solo artists Paul O’Donnell and Victoria Firth. She's previously worked as a General Manager with some of the West Midlands' leading companies and delivers training and mentoring, supporting self producing artists and organisational development.
She's also a board member of the Independent Theatre Council, the management association for the UK independent theatre sector.
​
JENNIE GENTLES
(Marketing Manager)
​
Jennie has over twenty years experience of working in the arts. She values the arts and strongly believes they enhance and can make a real difference to communities and peoples lives. She’s passionate about audience development and supporting organisations to grow and diversify their audience base. She has a strong commitment to enhancing digital communications to support brand development and social engagement.
​
She’s mentored a number of early career arts marketing professionals and has been a board member of the Arts Marketing Association, Bristol Old Vic and Vice Chair of ACE Dance & Music.
​
ABBIE WHITE
(PERFROMANCE PROGRAMME ASSISTANT PRODUCER)
​
Abbie is a Coventry-born and based, emerging Freelance Producer who aims to work with and support local freelance artists and independent performance-led theatre companies. Since recently graduating from the University of Birmingham where she studied Drama and English, Abbie has worked for the Belgrade Theatre to help produce various projects associated with their local Springboard Companies.
Abbie is now very excited to have joined the Shoot Festival team as the Performance Programme Assistant Producer!
​
RYAN SINCLAIR
(PERFORMANCE: IN BLOOM ASSISTANT PRODUCER)
​
Ryan Sinclair is a Spoken Word Poet, Author, Actor from Birmingham. He has worked with organisations such as Beatfreeks, The Arts Council, The Ort Gallery and he has performed in locations such as Birmingham Town Hall, Boxpark Wembley, Atlanta’s Apache Café and recently was working at the Belgrade Theatre as a Freelance Producer. He has been writing since the age of 12 and has been performing consistently since 2019.
​
In 2021 he had worked with organisations such as Apples&Snakes, GBSLEP, Birmingham City University Shoot Festival and many small independent organisations across the UK.
​
VINNY AULAK
(SOUND STAGE ASSISTANT PRODUCER)
​
Vinny has recently graduated from the University of Warwick with a first class degree in English and Theatre. She is actively engaged in a number of creative projects and expressions including radio presenting. Vinny had her prime time show at RAW1251AM, and presents her weekly show at Fresh West Midlands and will be presenting her own show at BBC Asian Network through Asian Network Represents later this year. She has also compered the stage for events including the Southam Food and Drink Festival
Vinny is currently writing her second play and looks forward to further contributing to her playwriting as well as acting portfolio. As the Sound Stage Assistant Producer at Shoot Festival Vinny looks forward to engaging and working alongside talented creatives in the local area.
​
CAITLIN LITTLEFORD
(EXHIBITION: IN BLOOM ASSISTANT PRODUCER)
​
Caitlin is this year's Shoot Festival Visual Arts Assistant Producer. A Film graduate with a passion for art exhibition, Caitlin aims to celebrate a wide range of artistic mediums that explore Coventry and Warwickshire artists of all backgrounds and social contexts.
​
RACHAEL MWAURA
(SOUND: IN BLOOM ASSISTANT PRODUCER)
​
Rachel grew up in Kenya and came to study in the Uk at Coventry University. She acquired her HnD in Disaster Management in 2013 whereby she was introduced to Hillz Fm. Rachel’s love of music saw her audition for a show and she was successful. It has been over eight years since Rachel has been presenting her Afrobeats/African vibes show at Hillz Fm, 98.6, Coventry. This has led Rachel to be presented with the Hillz Fm Best Presenter of the Year 2021.
Currently, Rachel is working as a freelance Assistant Producer for Shoot Festival, Sound:In Bloom with hopes to further her career.
​
PAVANI KONDA
(MARKETING ASSISTANT)
​
Pavani is a final year Media Production student, with a keen interest in marketing. She’s in the process of self publishing her own poetry collection and wants to develop as a writer.
Pavani has grown up in Coventry all her life and enjoys learning and creating, storytelling in all its forms. She’s really excited to learn and grow through being a part of ShootFestival!
​
THOMAS LANGFORD
(PRODUCTION MANAGER)
​
Tom Langford has worked as a Production & Technical Manager in the live arts and events sector for over 20yrs. He has a wealth of experience in high-profile theatre performances, arts festivals, comedy, music events, live art, installations and a range of site-specific performances.
He has worked in an advisory and consultancy capacity with a range of artists and organisations.
​
SHOOT
FESTIVAL
Privacy Policy | Cookie Policy | Copyright © 2022 Coventry Shoot Festival
Shoot Festival Limited. Co. Reg. No. 1143142
.png)