Our Team
Management Team
Name: Jo
Position: General Manager
Email: jo.ditch@leisureconnection.co.uk
What I do at the Grove: I look after and manage the strategy of the venue, the commercial programming, the various departments and the budget of the Grove.
Favourite show: I love Musicals or more specifically the music from the Musicals; which get played relentlessly in my car! Favourites include Rent, Evita and Les Miserables.
Interesting fact: I’ve been working on the Grove Theatre project as General Manager since its conception in 2005, prior to launching the venue in 2007. Previously I was a Theatre Manager at the Trafalgar Studios (formerly known as The Whitehall Theatre) and Phoenix Theatre in the West End and I have also managed the Princess Theatre in Torquay and the Empire Theatre in Liverpool.
Name: Natasha
Position: Deputy General Manager
Email: grovetheatre@leisureconnection.co.uk
What I do at the Grove: I oversee building operations – including staff rotas, personnel administration, Front Of House recruitment, staff training and Health and Safety. I also complete the finance paperwork for each show and issue this to the producers that we work with. I programme cinema screenings and am also the chief point of contact for all community hire performances – which is an aspect of my job that I particularly enjoy. I am also a FOH Duty Manager for one/two performances a week – you may see me in the foyers!
Favourite show: I love a classic drama, but have a bizarre love of puppetry and ventriloquism – so love shows like Avenue Q and acts such as Paul Zerdin.
Interesting fact: I am a member of a Dunstable choir – and am an Upper Soprano. I have performed on the Grove stage a couple of times – and it is a terrifying but exhilarating experience – but I much prefer working “behind the scenes” normally!
Marketing and Sales Team
Name: Claire
Position: Sales and Marketing Manager
Email: marketing.grove@leisureconnection.co.uk
What I do at the Grove: I create, plan and strategise the Theatre marketing practise for all shows and the venue. Responsible for our brand, I oversee and work with lots of people to make sure we communicate effectively with you; our lovely audiences. I also manage our fantastic Box Office team & our media budget for the year.
Favourite show: I have so many! My recent favourites have been Saved by Edward Bond at the Lyric Hammersmith and Lay Down Your Cross at the Hampstead Theatre. I loved seeing Saved as I’m really interested in Post-War British Theatre and Lay Down Your Cross as it was very topical – I love how art can get away with questioning most things in life! I’m also a huge fan of comedy & live music – give me Tim Minchin any day and I’ll be very happy.
Interesting Fact: I love running. I am a regular runner at our local Parkruns in Herts, Beds, Bucks and beyond. I ran the 2012 and 2013 Virgin London Marathon fundraising for Asthma UK and I am also a UK Athletics Run Leader for Team Beds and Luton. You’ll often see me running about in Bedfordshire.
Name: Adrian
Position: Sales and Marketing Assistant
Email: marketing.grove2@leisureconnection.co.uk
What I do at the Grove: I work in the marketing department and my role has lots of different and interesting parts to it, including constructing press releases, organising press and radio interviews, running road-shows in the local communities, designing print and publication material and organising press events and looking after our website, Facebook, WordPress, Pinterest and Twitter feeds.
Favourite show: Rent
Interesting fact: I am a ballroom and latin dancer.
Name: Tracey
Position: Sales and Administration Assistant
Email: grovesales@leisureconnection.co.uk
What I do at the Grove: I’m the Corporate and private function booker for non show events such as meetings and parties etc. I am also the theatre administrator for finance and group sales bookings.
Favourite show: Dirty Dancing because it’s my favourite film of all time so has to be my favourite stage show!
Interesting fact: I once cycled round the Isle of Wight in three days!
Name: Hayley
Position: Box Office Co-ordinator
Email: groveboxoffice@leisureconnection.co.uk
What I do at the Grove: I am responsible for running our Box Office. I put our new shows on sale and also look after the box office team. I organise sales training, rota our team at the Box Office and also finish the finance paper work for producers; as well as selling tickets!
Favourite Show: My favourite musical is Les Miserable (Musical) as the music is stunning and my favourite play is Blue Orange.
Interesting Fact: I am a trained singer and stage manager and love reading. I also used to work for Andrew Lloyd Webber’s company, Really Useful Theatres.
Name: Hannah Name: Becca
Position: Box Office Assistant Position: Box Office Assistant
Name: Gabby Name: Jane
Position: Box Office Assistant Position: Box Office Assistant
Name: Natalie L Name: Natalie W
Position: Box Office Assistant Position: Box Office Assistant
Name: Sue
Position: Box Office Assistant
Education and Outreach Team
Name: Anna
Position: Education Co-ordinator/ Youth Theatre Leader
Email: groveeducation@leisureconnection.co.uk
What I do at the Grove: I run Youth Theatre classes for 6 – 19 year olds and oversee the running of all our dance classes and workshops that take place throughout the year. I also produce our Summer Musical Project for young people, which takes place in August every year and culminates in four performances on our main stage. I can also arrange work experience placements in our venue. I absolutely LOVE my job!
Favourite show: The Wizard of Oz because I want to be Dorothy!
Interesting fact: I once won a gold medal in a figure skating competition and I can play hammond organ!
Name: Karen
Position: Education Outreach and PR Assistant
Email: groveeducation@leisureconnection.co.uk
What I do at the Grove: I work with schools, community groups and business to help promote our education projects.
Favourite show: We Will Rock You is by far my favourite show; I love Queen and I love this show. Another of my favourites has to be Wicked, because it’s just that…WICKED!
Interesting fact: I run NKB School of Dance with my sister Nicola and we are extremely privileged to have been selected to support the BBC One hit show Strictly Come Dancing on Tour since 2010. Sparkly dresses and fake tan…I love it!
Front of House Team
Name: Jordan
Position: Head of Front of House
Email: grove.admin@leisureconnection.co.uk
What I do at the Grove: I oversee all of the Front of House areas within the building. My duties include organising the team rotas, staff training, stock ordering, weekly banking of the bar income, I organise Front of House riders for visiting artists and I am also a Duty Manager 3-4 performances a week.
Favourite show: Any stand-up comedians, especially Frankie Boyle, Sean Lock, Jimmy Carr and Jon Richardson. I also love live music and comedy musicals such as Avenue Q.
Interesting fact: I am a keen drummer and have a strong passion for music. I like going to gigs and watching bands perform live. I also have a big interest in tattoos and artwork.
Name: Adrian Name: Pauline
Position: Duty Manager Position: Duty Manager
Name: Sandra Name: Sue
Position: Duty Manager Position: Duty Manager
Name: Ann-Michelle Name: Dave
Position: Bar Supervisor Position: Bar Supervisor
Technical Team
Name: Matt
Position: Technical Manager
Email: matt.kingslake@leisureconnection.co.uk
Name: Nathan
Position: Deputy Technical Manager
Email: grovetechnical@leisureconnection.co.uk
Name: Ben
Position: Senior Theatre Technician
Name: Rob
Position: Casual Theatre Technician
Our Theatre Partners
Our sister theatres are the Alban Arena in St Albans and Harpenden Public Halls in Harpenden.
You can check them out by using the below links: