Jo Timmins (she/her)
Artistic Director and Co-CEO
Jo is the founder and Artistic Director of Lyra, creating and developing the company’s highly successful model of working. Originally trained as a director at Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh, she has worked in theatre, dance and design, with a focus on performing arts for children and teenagers.
For Lyra, Jo has created Once Upon A Snowstorm, We Are All Just Little Creatures (in association with Curious Seed and Lung Ha Theatre Company), Wild Heart, This Way Up, Helen’s Letters, Lone Wolf, Sampler, Pigeon, Hush and Rebecca’s Midnight.
Jo is also a regular collaborator with Dublin based dance-theatre company Junk Ensemble working as dramaturg (The Cold Sings, The Veiled Ones, Dolores), co-creator (Bird with Boy), designer (Sometimes we break, Tate Britain commission) and director (The Rain Party). She has also directed for Kopergietery (Belgium) and Catherine Wheels (Scotland) and was a Fresh Tracks Europe choreographer in 2013 (Vienna). Jo is the recipient of a Winston Churchill Fellowship and a Dewar Arts Award.
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James Preston (he/him)
Executive Producer & Co-CEO
James works with Jo to lead Lyra and bring the artistic vision to life. He is responsible for company planning, finances, fundraising and leads on Lyra's ambition to develop more work made for children and young people as audience members.
James trained in Drama and Theatre Arts (specialising in Directing) at Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh and began his career as a theatre producer with shows at The Bush Theatre and The Traverse Theatre. He worked in dance from 2006 as Communications and Development Director at Dance Base (Edinburgh), Communications Manager at Dance City (Newcastle), board member of Indepen-dance (Glasgow) and National Project Manager for the Get Scotland Dancing initiative (part of the Culture 2014 programme in Glasgow’s 2014 Commonwealth Games). James joined the board of Rosie Kay Dance Company in 2011 and was Executive Director 2016-2022 leading the company to become an Arts Council England National Portfolio Organisation.
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Iain Reekie (he/him)
Associate Director
Iain is an Associate Director with Lyra. He supports the Company in developing the Artistic Policy and he sometimes directs projects and is dramaturg on some others.
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Iain originally trained as an actor and director at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland in the late 1980s. He then became Assistant Director at Nottingham Playhouse before going on to to lead 7:84 Theatre Company Scotland for ten years as Artistic Director. He’s worked at and with the Citizen’s Theatre, Traverse Theatre, Royal Lyceum, Dundee Rep, the Bush Theatre, Theatre 503 and Lyra amongst others. Iain became Head of the School of Drama and Performance at Queen Margaret University in 2001 and then in 2005, he became Head of Acting at Rose Bruford College for twelve years. At Rose Bruford Iain specialised in the development of Actor Musicianship work, directing many large scale productions at Rose Bruford and a variety of professional London venues. Iain was active in the forming of a new cultural policy for Scottish Theatre, working with the Federation of Scottish Theatre, the then Scottish Arts Council and the Scottish Government and played a key role in the creation of the National Theatre of Scotland.
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Natalia Barua (she/her)
Engagement Artist
Natalia's role is focused on leading and developing Lyra's Young Company, establishing and delivering brand new engagement projects and contributing to the programme's artistic quality and accessibility.
Natalia is a dance artist and choreographer working predominantly in video dance, interdisciplinary performance and participation. She has worked in participation for over 10 years as a practitioner, facilitator and producer, designing, leading and supporting community-focused and professional projects. Natalia has developed and delivered high-quality dance projects with vulnerable young people, for adults experiencing mental health issues, worked for charities such as Mencap and NACRO, in primary, secondary and SEN schools across England and Scotland, facilitated social development programmes in deprived communities and has been employed by leading dance organisations including East London Dance, English National Ballet School, YDance and Pavilion Dance South West. She co-directed Diverse Dance, an inclusive dance company in London from 2013-2017, presenting work at venues such as Siobhan Davies Dance Studios, Big Dance Bus and Southbank Centre (Unlimited Festival).
Natalia's video dance productions have been awarded at and screened at festivals worldwide and installed at venues throughout the UK. In 2020 Natalia was commissioned by Lyra's Young Artists for the creation of a video-performance-installation, Slumbering Deep.
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Anna Plasberg-Hill
Engagement Producer
Anna’s role at Lyra is to lead and oversee the smooth running of Lyra’s projects, engagement programme and creative events.
Anna studied Drama, Applied Theatre and Education at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama (2012), and subsequently went on to train in Physical Theatre at St Mary’s University College (2013). Since graduating, Anna has worked as a practitioner, project coordinator and producer in a range of arts and engagement contexts, particularly focusing on projects with children, young people and communities. She has worked with a number of organisations including Catherine Wheels Theatre Company, Children’s Parliament, Edinburgh International Book Festival, Royal Lyceum Theatre Edinburgh, Aberdeen Performing Arts, Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society, Kulturmanagement Solingen (Germany) and the National Theatre of Scotland.
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Jo Sharp (she/her)
Engagement Facilitator
Jo oversees the Young Artists programme at Lyra, working with participants to build their skills and collaborating with visiting artists to bring ideas to life.
Jo is a Performance Maker and Facilitator who works with young people to make original performance. Since graduating from Contemporary Performance Practice at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland in 2016 she has worked across Scotland and beyond. In 2016 Jo received the Avrom Greenbaum Players Award for Direction. In 2017 Jo was awarded the Saltire Emerging Directors award from Youth Theatre Arts Scotland. In 2022 Jo travelled to Belgium with the BUZZ network, an international programme designed to share practice between youth theatre leaders across Europe. Jo has worked as a Director and Facilitator with people of all ages in a range of settings including theatres, community spaces, schools and prisons. Previous collaborations include the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, HMP Low Moss, Falkirk Community Trust, Lyceum Youth Theatre, Macrobert Arts Centre, Perth Horsecross Theatre, Youth Theatre Arts Scotland and Children’s Parliament.
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Jenny Noble
Venue Host
Jenny graduated with a degree in Music from Kingston University in 2019, with voice being her specialised instrument.
Since then, Jenny has worked and volunteered with a variety of arts organisations including a music school, a music group for adults with disabilities, a theatre group, and has grown up for a love of theatre and the joy it brings to all. She has made music with young people, people living with dementia, people with disabilities and people with mental health issues.
Jenny used to work at Lyra as a Youth Arts Worker, so is very familiar with the people and ethos of the organisation. She is passionate about the arts being accessible and welcoming for all, no matter what barriers people may face in wider society.
The Venue Host is welcoming and helps visitors in making sure everything is in place for them to have a brilliant experience at Lyra. The Venue Host also manages communication and administration.
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Team Members
Lyra are currently working with a brilliant extended team!
Arran Bird
Lyra Ensemble
Arran is a founding member and co-director of Tortoise in a Nutshell, known for her award-nominated design and direction. She has toured internationally as a producer, performer and puppeteer. Arran has collaborated with major Scottish arts organisations and leads community-based creative projects. She is committed to accessible, thought-provoking visual theatre.
Alex Bird
Lyra Ensemble
Alex is a co-founding member of Tortoise in a Nutshell, creating award-winning theatre across Scotland, the UK and beyond. Driven by a belief in theatre that sparks imagination and conversation, he works as a theatre maker, performer and puppeteer. His credits include Ragnarok (2× CATS Awards 2024), Concerned Others, Ginger, The Lost Things, Feral (Fringe First; Kotorski Grand Jury Prize), The Last Miner, Grit and Fisk. A visual theatre artist, Alex values collective creation and thrives on collaborating with people from all walks of life.
Fay Guiffo
Lyra Ensemble
Fay is a French Cameroonian violinist, performer and multidisciplinary artist. Her work includes Death of a Salesman (UK Tour 2025) and the dance production SKETCHES (Made in Scotland Showcase 2023). She has performed at major festivals including the Edinburgh International Book Festival and the Scottish International Storytelling Festival. Passionate about family theatre, she frequently collaborates with Lyra Theatre Company as both a performer and educator.
Lorraine Hamilton
Lyra Ensemble
Lorraine is a visual artist specialising in sculpture, installation, play and sensory experience. She creates multisensory worlds that invite touch, scent and even taste, using carefully chosen materials to spark emotion and memory. Winner of the John Byrne Award 2023, she holds a Masters in Sculpture from the Glasgow School of Art and is a member of Neuk Collective and Salt Space Collective.
Morgan Njobo
Lyra Ensemble
Morgan is a South African vocalist, choreographer and artistic director with extensive experience directing and producing music and dance work, managing creative projects and programming multicultural events. Beginning his musical journey in Soweto community choirs, he went on to perform with a cappella groups including Soweto Entsha/Simply Soweto Encha and the Motown Brothers, semi-finalists on The Voice UK 2021. He writes, arranges and produces music, most recently for Edinburgh 900’s Stepping Out of the Shadows, and has co-composed for musical theatre productions such as Shona – The Musical. Morgan is Artistic Director of African Connections CIC, an Edinburgh-based organisation fostering cross-cultural collaboration, and also programmes and leads the Edinburgh Multicultural Festival.
Kim Stronach
Delivery Artist (WPA) & Facilitator (Scamps)
Kim is a Scottish freelance facilitator who graduated from Performing Arts Studio Scotland with a BA (Hons) in Dance and Drama. Kim started her work with Lyra in 2022 and has since worked alongside numerous young artists. She is currently the delivery artist for the Wednesday Young Artists, the dance facilitator for the Young Company and the facilitator for Scamps. Kim has found her love for making art in collaboration with young artists through her ongoing work with Lyra and finds joy in seeing their confidence grow throughout their time with us.
Hope Kennedy
Lead Artist (TPA)
Hope is a performer, movement artist and facilitator from Fife. An interdisciplinary maker, she works with devised movement and text, crafting patchwork stories from overheard conversations, lists, imaginings and found words. Using a handmade, storybook aesthetic, she builds familiar dreamscapes that hold audiences with warmth and generosity. Under the name lovebug + worm, she collaborates with artist Florence Logan to create performance for—and with—early years audiences. At the heart of her practice is the creation of intricate, immersive worlds that invite people to reminisce and rediscover joy.
Katrine Turner
Delivery Artist (Scamps) & Facilitator (YC & Outline)
Katrine is a theatremaker and facilitator with over 10 years’ experience working with theatres, schools and communities across Scotland. With a background in devised performance and installation, her creative output often focusses on systems, crisis and excess. Katrine has a keen interest in co-creating work with children and young people and has led co-creation projects for Imaginate, Cove Park and Rig Arts. She currently works part time as a Creative Engagement Associate as part of the Stellar Quines core team. As a theatremaker, Katrine’s work has been programmed by Summerhall, Tramway, Camden People’s Theatre, English Theatre Berlin and the CCA.
Dan Brown
Lead Artist (Outline)
Dan is a queer, working-class dance artist, theatre maker and practitioner from Blackburn West Lothian, now living in Glasgow. His practice is based in dance and theatre making, utilising persona and popular iconography to contextualise meaning and mediate his own autobiography, opening up the micro to relate to the macro. Dan has worked on a range of projects in dance and theatre with companies such as 21COMMON, The National Theatre of Scotland and Imaginate. He consistently challenges the expected ways of seeing a socially engaged practice, interrogating and subverting accepted outcomes. Dan co-creates processes and performances for non-performers to become autonomous makers and thinkers, to step into their agency by owning their autobiography.
Dorine Mugisha
Dance Lead Artist (YC)
Dorine is a multi disciplinary artist, events organiser, project manager interested in themes around identity, belonging and body image. Born and raised in France, of Tanzanian heritage, she is based in Scotland. She is inspired by an array of cultures having travelled over 30 countries, and speaks 4 languages; this informs a lot of her work. Dorine Mugisha is the founder of Whacking Scotland and Body Movement where she leads workshops, events and retreats, celebrating every BODY. She has a degree in Law & Sociology, experience working in the youth charity sector for over 10 years and has a IAFPD Primary Certificate in Health and Wellbeing Coaching.
Emanuel Carlos
Dance Lead Artist (YC)
Emanuel is a dancer, choreographer and cultural leader originally from Angola, now based in Edinburgh. His practice is rooted in Afro House, Kuduro, and other diasporic styles, blending Angolan and Portuguese influences with global street and contemporary dance. Emanuel has collaborated with organisations such as Dance Base, Edinburgh Festival Carnival, Project X and Afro Dance Academy, using dance as a tool for community building, cultural exchange and empowerment.
Kelsey Sullivan (she/her)
Facilitator (Crew)
Kelsey is a Boston-born, internationally recognised playwright, producer and facilitator based in Glasgow. A graduate of NYU Tisch’s Dramatic Writing programme, her work has been presented by Memoriam Development (Stinky Girls), HystERia Téatar (Ghost Party), Teatro LATEA (My Love Was Stolen By a Con Man!), and featured in festivals including the Edinburgh Horror Festival, Edinburgh Fringe, The Brick’s ?!:New Works Festival and the Valdez Theatre Conference (Worm Teeth). Worm Teeth will be staged in 2026 as part of Melancholics Anonymous’ Spring Season. Kelsey has also worked in producing and stage management roles with companies such as F-Bomb Theatre, Pretty Knickers Productions and Moonfish Theatre.
Edvi Lima
Facilitator (WPA & TPA), 1:1 support (YC)
Edvi is passionate about supporting young people through arts and education. Her kids attend Lyra, and she loves seeing the positive impact on their lives. In addition to her work at Lyra, she runs a youth club in the community, where she helps young people build confidence and have fun. She is finishing her degree in Community Development at the University of Glasgow, gaining skills to drive social change. Outside of work and study, you can find her walking my dog or running. She is committed to making a positive difference in her community.
Jack Dickson
Youth Arts Worker (TPA)
Jack is a Performer and Facilitator based in Edinburgh. He trained at PASS graduating with a BA (Hons) in Dance and Drama and loves creating memorable and transformative theatre that leaves audiences with questions. His favourite form of theatre is physical theatre as he enjoys showing expression through movement. Since graduating Jack is working as a freelancer with Lyra and other companies including Cutting Edge Theatre.
Adam Rosa
Youth Arts Worker (TPA & Outline)
Adam is a writer, director, and dramaturg with years of experience making theatre with young people and a Masters in Playwriting and Dramaturgy from University of Glasgow. Adam is especially interested in collaborating on new work dealing with themes of mental health, intersectional feminism, masculinity, how the world shapes young people and how young people can shape the world in return.
Recent credits include "Where Were You?" by Balancing Act Theatre (Dramaturg), "A.I. + U" (Director), and work with the late playwright (Dramaturg) to deliver a scratch night for EYT's young playwriting collective.
Our Board
Lyra are supported by the board of trustees, who bring a wealth of experience in education, arts company management, finance, charity work and essential knowledge of the local area. The Board meets regularly and not only plays an active role in the planning of the organisation’s activity, but also actively supporting the ongoing fundraising and strategic development of the company.
Louise Gilmour-Wills
Chair
Louise is chair of Lyra's board and is Producer at Catherine Wheels, the leading Scottish touring company for young people's theatre.
Matt Addicott
Matt is Artistic Director of Platform the arts centre at the heart of The Bridge, located in Easterhouse, Glasgow.
Segi Awogbemi
Treasurer
Segi is a chartered accountant in the financial services industry.
Kathryn Brack
Child Protection Champion
Kat is a secondary school teacher and previously taught at Castlebrae Community High School in Craigmillar.
Vania Dias
Vania is a Mental Health and Wellbeing Practitioner and a parent of one of Lyra's Young Artists.
Megan Horn
Megan is a former Lyra Young Artist who went on to become a Youth Arts Worker. She is now a Nursery Practitioner.
Sarah is Communications & Marketing Manager at Starcatchers - Scotland's Arts and Early Years organisation.
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Sarah Leary
Environmental Sustainability Champion
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