Our People
We specialise in creating new music - opera, theatrical narrated concerts & musical theatre, supported by school and community workshops. We have brought together an amazing group of freelancers and our team is tailored to meet the specific requirements of each project.
About Us
SUSAN MOORE
Artistic Director, Sue Moore, is a seasoned opera performer and a specialist in directing, performing for, and working with young people. Formerly Artistic Director of W11 Opera, Sue directed The Price (Eastman/Hepplewhite) for them in 2016. She revived Tim Yealland’s production of Shackleton’s Cat in 2018 for English Touring Opera & directed/designed the World Premiere of The Casket Girl (Eastman/Hepplewhite) for Jubilee Opera at the Jubilee Hall in Aldeburgh in 2019. Other W11 Opera productions include: Cutlass Crew (Sturrock/Hancock) and Shadowtracks (Jones/Grant). In response to the pandemic, Sue moved W11 Opera entirely online, creating a one hour film, Jukebox. In 2021 she developed a second film, It’s Your Move (Original Story & Script - Sue Moore, Song Lyrics - Tim Yealland, Music - Russell Hepplewhite). As a performer Sue has created the roles of Valentina (Laika), Mrs. Plumpster/Ferdinand (Borka), and Milly (Silver Electra) for English Touring Opera.
CLIO BURROUGHS
Producer, Clio Burroughs, began her career as an arts administrator in the Exhibitions Department at The British Museum, supporting critically acclaimed projects in the Round Reading Room, Gallery 35 and The Sainsbury Exhibition Gallery. She oversaw her department's fit-out and move into the BM's newly built World Conservation & Exhibition Centre. Following her passion for live performance, Clio made the move to take on a similar role at Hampton Court Palace in the Creative Programming & Interpretation Department at Historic Royal Palaces. In 2018 she began working as a freelance arts administrator. In addition, in 2019, she became the Company Manager for W11 Opera and supported their 2019 production Ever Young (Eastman/Hepplewhite) and helped to run their two online productions, Jukebox and It's Your Move (Moore/Yealland/Hepplewhite), during the pandemic.
In addition to being the Producer, Clio is also the Company Director of Ignite Music.
RUSSELL HEPPLEWHITE
Composer, Russell Hepplewhite, is recognised as a leading music-theatre composer. His ground-breaking operas commissioned by English Touring Opera for young audiences have been widely performed, and won him critical acclaim. The most successful of these operas, Laika The Spacedog, has been performed across Europe including an all new productions by the Opera Nouvel in Fribourg Switzerland; and the Neue Forum Kunst Germany. Other operas include The Price, and Ever Young both for W11 Opera; The Casket Girl for Jubilee Opera, and Moonfleet The Musical for the Salisbury Playhouse in 2018. His music is published by OUP, Stainer and Bell, and Banks Music Publications. With acclaimed author Michael Rosen Russell composed the 2020 set of Friday Afternoons songs commissioned by Snape Maltings, Forthcoming productions include Climat at Montpellier Opera; and a new opera for the State Opera in Oldenburg Germany.
https://www.russellhepplewhite.com
TIM YEALLAND
Librettist, Tim Yealland, read English at Trinity College Cambridge, then studied singing at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, and at the Hochschule für Musik in Munich. As a singer and actor he performed for English Touring Opera, Opera 80, English National Opera, Opera North, the Royal Opera House, Glyndebourne, and the Chichester Festival. He has directed participatory projects for most of the leading opera companies and orchestras, including the Royal Opera House, English National Opera, Opera North, Glyndebourne as well as the London Symphony, London Philharmonic and Philharmonia orchestras. He devised and led the outreach work of English Touring Opera for 16 years, for whom he wrote the libretti for and directed many operas for young people. He directed Ever Young for W11 Opera in 2019, and also wrote the lyrics for It's Your Move in 2021. For the last three years he has devised work for the Primary Shakespeare Company (with composer Rachel Leach), most recently in 2022 Fly, Fleance, Fly, an opera based on Macbeth with 240 young people in Harrow and Islington. Tim was appointed MBE in the 2019 New Year’s Honours.
CLARE BOWSKILL
Communications and Marketing Manager, Clare Bowskill, brings to Ignite Music more than 20 years of experience in communications working for major television networks including ITV and BBC Worldwide and as Head of Publicity for a major charity. More recently she moved into the world of performing arts as the Visitor Services Manager for Brighton Dome and Festival working directly with audience and Front of House teams. Clare is dedicated to working on the creative side of communications with a particular specialty in digital communications and brand marketing. She draws upon her extensive knowledge and direct experience as a video editor, film director and copywriter to devise unique and thought-provoking campaigns.
JESS KAY
Puppetmaker, Jess Kay, is a freelance puppetmaker and puppeteer and has created and puppeteered her creations in many theatrical productions, music videos, live music events, festivals and, most recently, children's television. She has a huge love for visual storytelling with a keen interest in the role that every detail plays in portraying a character, idea or story.
CRAWFORD WILSON
AV Designer, Crawford Wilson, is an experienced Designer within the Media, having worked with BBC, Channel 4 and, most recently, ITV, as their Deputy Head of Graphics & Senior Designer. His passion is to bring ideas to life, designing with flexible and diverse styles. He has many years of experience developing concepts and storyboarding, through to art direction, design, animation, and content.
DANIEL TAYLOR
Daniel Taylor, is a freelance Graphic Designer and Illustrator. He studied at the University of Portsmouth and is now based in East London. He creates thoughtful and charming designs through the exploration of typography, illustration, and imagery. Daniel is responsible for designing the logo and all of the publicity for Ignite.
LORNA BRIDGE
Personal Giving Manager, Lorna Bridge is a passionate supporter of the performing arts, especially new music for young audiences. She trained at the prestigious Royal College of Music and made her debut at Royal Opera House as Solo Ragazzi in concert performances of Linda da Chamounix conducted by Sir Mark Elder. She was a member of the world premier cast of Laika the Spacedog (English Touring Opera). Her expert knowledge of performance and her enthusiasm for our work has made her an essential part of the Ignite team.
WE'RE FUNDRAISING!
Support our 2023 opera production of Borka: the Adventures of a Goose with no Feathers!