Matipo Arts was founded by sisters Sally and Georgia Hardcastle. In April 2021 we formally registered as a Community Interest Company and we now have a wonderful board of 5. We strive to create work that subverts the norms of theatre, while keeping it accessible and entertaining. We are dedicated to new material and to having fun. Come and join the family.
Meet The Team
Executive Directors
Georgia Hardcastle
Artistic Director
Georgia is a writer, director and facilitator based in London, working across East Anglia.
Her directing practice includes fringe new writing, devising, and youth and community productions. Her process is collaborative, playful and considered. Her work has been staged at venues including The Garage, Harlow Playhouse, The Space Arts Centre, The Bread & Roses Theatre and The Redbridge Drama Centre.
Sally Hardcastle
Executive Director
Sally is a performance designer and project manager based in Harlow, Essex.
Since graduating with a degree in Theatre Design from Rose Bruford College she has worked with organisations including Wild Rumpus, The Bread and Roses and The Gate Theatre. Sally has a particular interest in new writing and community based theatre and art.
​
Outside of her work with Matipo Arts, Sally works with Harlow Council as their Local Cultural Education Partnership Co-ordinator.
Non-Executive Directors
Chris Swift
Chris Swift is a Non-Executive Director for Matipo Arts. She has a background in community arts, developing and running photography based workshops with schools and a wide range of community groups. Chris went on to run an arts charity; worked as an advisor to the voluntary sector; and set up and ran an education, training and employment programme within a homeless women’s project. She has also sat on and chaired an arts committee that awarded grants and bursaries in the visual arts.
She has worked as a photographer and taken part in group shows, exhibiting at the Museum of London and Royal Festival Hall amongst other venues.
Hollie Phelps
Hollie Phelps is a Non-Executive Director for Matipo Arts. She is an assistant headteacher with over 11 years experience in Education in Primary schools. She holds expertise in curriculum development, inclusive practice and safeguarding. Hollie is passionate about creative learning, and her heavy involvement in musical theatre as a child has primed her to contribute to Matipo Arts' offer for young people with enthusiasm!
Sam Webber
Sam Webber is a director, lighting designer, puppeteer, and youth arts worker based in the heart of Norfolk. He works across disciplines and community groups to create exciting contemporary theatre pieces for a wide range of audiences. Notable recent projects include his work as one half of Rootling Theatre, creating exciting new puppet shows for one audience member at a time, writing/directing a new musical version of Dracula, and The Etmon Files, an ongoing poetry project uncovering lost ancient works.
Frequent Collaborators
At Matipo Arts, we pride ourselves on supporting creative’s professional development, and working with trusted collaborators. Here are some faces you may see repeatedly in our work.
Lucia Randall
Lucia Randall is an actor and facilitator from Kent. She trained in Physical Theatre with East 15 Acting School and starred in Matipo Art's Asha and the Troll.
Tom King
Tom King is an Actor and Musician from The Black Country. He trained in European Theatre Arts at Rose Bruford College and most recently starred in Matipo Arts' Asha and The Troll.
Richard Ashton
Richard Ashton is an Actor from Manchester, now long time Harlow resident. He has performed across stage and screen for 30 years, most recently staring as Matipo Arts' Green Man.
Poppy Evans
Poppy Evans is an actor from Harlow. She trained in Musical Theatre at University Centre Colchester, and has performed with Matipo Arts in Harlow75, and as the Fairy Queen, amongst other roles.