Touring dance-circus company Motionhouse welcomes new Chair and new Trustee

Acclaimed touring dance-circus company Motionhouse has announced that a new Chair of the Board of Trustees and a new Trustee were appointed at its AGM on the 28th of October.

Toby Smith, Chief Executive of Borletti-Buitoni Trust, replaces longstanding board member and former Chair Simon Wales as Chair of the Board of Trustees, and accessibility expert Philippa Bradford joins as a Trustee for the company.

Toby joined the Motionhouse Board in 2018, and in his role at the Borletti-Buitoni Trust, he supports young international classical musicians with career development funding. Toby has over 25 years’
experience of programming, commissioning and producing in venues of different scales. Former positions include Associate Director at Greenwich+Docklands Festivals, Festival Director at Salisbury
International Arts Festival, Director of Performance and Programming at Royal Northern College of Music, and roles at Cheltenham Arts Festivals and Barbican Centre.

Philippa Bradford is a passionate advocate for a more inclusive and supportive society and a wheelchair user. She works as a mentor and coach and is an accessibility expert, including providing consultancy and training support for arts and culture organisations to help them create accessible, inclusive spaces designed to benefit visitors, colleagues and creative partners.

Louise Richards, Executive Director of Motionhouse: “I speak for the whole company in welcoming Toby as our new Chair and Philippa as a Trustee. We’re all looking forward to working alongside them on the next chapter in the company’s evolution. Huge thanks to Simon for his incredible support over the past 10 years as Trustee and the last 6 years as Chair, helping us get through some turbulent times in recent years, notably the Covid pandemic. Now Simon has stepped down from the Board, we wish him every success in his future ventures.”

Toby Smith said: “Motionhouse consistently pushes at the boundaries of possibility, creating new dancecircus that is both jaw-dropping and thought-provoking, in theatres and public spaces, across the UK and overseas, and on TV and digital screens. As a Trustee, I’ve supported the company’s recent growth and as now as Chair I can’t wait to sustain and build on Simon’s incredible leadership, working with Kevin and Louise and my wonderful fellow Trustees to share Motionhouse’s new shows with the world – including Hidden next Spring – and to ensure the organisation is in the very best position to realise its seemingly inexhaustible ambition.”

Philippa Bradford said: “I am thrilled to join the Board of Trustees at Motionhouse and to be able to bring my perspective as an Access Consultant because I believe in the power of the arts to change lives and create shared experiences that overcome barriers. As someone who champions accessibility and inclusion, I see this as an exciting opportunity to help ensure that everyone, regardless of their abilities, can fully engage with and enjoy the incredible work Motionhouse creates.”