TE NEWS: READ ALL ABOUT IT
The latest news from around the Group.
A Royal Arrival
We are delighted to share the exciting news that Houri Tapiki, the General Manager of Theatre Royal Sydney, has welcomed a baby girl!
Their little miracle baby has been five years in the making and decided to make an early arrival! Sevan Gabriel Tapiki was born 17 September at 1.46pm, weighing 3.175kg and 53cms. Congratulations Houri and Steve (plus pups Peggy and Cookie!), wishing you happiness and love for your family.
Houri will return to the Royal in February 2026.
Happy news for Fiona and Andy
Wycombe Swan’s Theatre Director, Fiona Martin, and Theatre Administrator, Andy Grange, welcomed their baby boy Harry Michael Martin-Grange to the world on 10th July, weighting 7lbs 6oz!
Sadly, he was born unable to swallow and was transferred to John Radcliffe Hospital for immediate lifesaving surgery, where he made a good recovery in NICU. He has a condition known as TOF.
Fiona and Andy received outstanding care and support from the hospital and from the Ronald MacDonald Charity.
He is now 8 weeks old and doing very well. The couple have been able to enjoy some nice days out over the school holidays with his brother Finley including a visit to Wycombe Swan!
Fiona and Andy wish to thank all their colleagues for the support given to them over the past few months.
A special celebration in Swindon
The Wyvern Theatre Swindon held a small celebration recently for Christine Husseyin, Ticket Office Manager, who has been with the venue for 37 years! Chris has stepped down from her full-time Manager role but is staying on part-time as Ticket Office Assistant.
Laura James, Theatre Director, said “We couldn’t not mark the occasion, even though Chris isn’t a lover of being the centre of attention! Chris has contributed an incredible amount to Swindon Theatres over the years and is much-loved by staff past and present, as well as our patrons, visitors, local hirers and members of the community. She has had a huge impact on so many of us and is a true inspiration. Thank you for your service over the past 37 years, Chris!”
The celebration was a surprise for Chris and involved brunch and cake, fizz (non-alcoholic), decorations, a gallery of photographic memories, speeches from Laura and Chris, and a beautiful poem, written and read by Julie Ireland, a close colleague of Chris within the Ticket Office team.
Laura added: “We are thrilled that Chris will be staying with us on a part-time basis and wish her a very well-deserved and restful (part) retirement!”
Another award nomination for Orchard West!
Dartford’s multi award-winning temporary venue, Orchard West, is now in the running for another major award! The venue has been shortlisted for the Excellence in Workforce Culture award at the UK Theatre Awards 2025.
Tal Rosen, Theatre Director, said: “This nomination recognises the team’s journey from the Orchard Theatre to Orchard West – including redeployment, adapting our culture, retention and development , with seven colleagues progressing into central roles within Trafalgar. It is also to the testament for Trafalgar Entertainment’s (alongside Dartford Borough Council’s) commitment to the skilled workforce within Dartford. It is a great accolade for the journey of OW/OT and most importantly, the Dartford team and the incredible journey they have all been through.”
The UK Theatre Awards will be presented on Sunday 12 October at 8 Northumberland Avenue. The awards ceremony is the only event celebrating the outstanding work being presented and produced on our regional stages throughout England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Trafalgar Theatres is an official sponsor of the 2025 event.
New podcast from Trafalgar Education
Exciting news from Trafalgar Education! On 30 September, we’re launching our brand-new podcast — Performing in Life – a dynamic series designed to spark conversation, share insights, and celebrate innovation in performing arts and the world we are all navigating through. The Performing in Life podcast promises to be a rich source of inspiration and thought leadership.
We’re kicking things off with some fantastic guests including Dame Rosemary Squire, whose contributions to theatre and education have had a profound impact on the theatre landscape. Each episode will feature engaging discussions with influential voices across the education and creative sectors, offering fresh perspectives and practical takeaways.
You’ll be able to listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, and for those who prefer a visual experience, watch on YouTube. To stay in the loop with episode drops, behind-the-scenes content, and guest announcements, make sure to follow the Trafalgar Education Instagram page — your go-to hub for all things podcast-related.
We can’t wait to share Performing in Life with you. Will you be tuning in for the first episode?
Sarah’s Story
Sarah Lawrence, Customer Contact Team Leader at Trafalgar Ticketing, shares a personal story with Ensemble this month.
In November 2024, me and my husband Rob sadly lost our son Eli, unexpectedly at 36 weeks pregnant.
This October, my husband is doing 150 miles of walking, running and cycling to raise funds for a charity called Aching Arms.
This charity supports bereaved parents and families going through grief and the loss of a baby or child.
They were a big part of our journey with Eli so we are glad to be able to raise funds for them and help other families that are struggling through the same situation as us.
The first £100 raised will go towards donating memory bears in Eli’s name. These are given to families in hospital when they lose their baby. Each bear has the name of a previously lost child – to show each family they are not alone on their journey.
After that, donations go towards projects for Aching Arms helping bereaved parents and their families.
If you’d like to support our fundraising, please donate via this link. Thank you!😊
We are now cautiously excited to be pregnant with our Rainbow baby – due around Christmas time. They will be a very welcome addition to our little family, joining our toddler, their big brother, Cody. Although our family will now never be complete without Eli being here with us, we are delighted to be able to bring our new little one into our lives, and bring light back to our family once again.
