The PlayMakers
Box of Tricks makes plays. We champion playwrights and empower them to tell the stories they want to tell. We create heartfelt theatre that resonates, inspires and entertains by uncovering new plays that reflect the world in which we live today.
Based in Manchester, Box of Tricks is an award-winning theatre company that brings people together to share stories collectively. We stage new plays and connect with communities right across the UK. Celebrating Northern talent, our productions are staged in theatres locally and nationally as well as in public spaces – pubs, libraries, village halls – in the heart of local communities.
New plays are the lifeblood of theatre and playwrights its beating heart. Box of Tricks offers a home for playwrights to find their voice and tell their story. Our PlayMakers Network is a creative community for Northern playwrights to connect, collaborate and create. We nurture early-career North West playwrights through our year-long PlayBox attachments and commission, develop and produce bold new theatre through our New Tricks commissions.
We want to forge a fairer future and are committed to positive change. Beyond productions, we provide pathways into the arts, connect with communities, inspire younger generations and develop future talent.
We are the play makers. Every story told. Every voice heard.
Adam Quayle
Joint Artistic Director and Co-Founder
Adam trained as a director at Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts. For Box of Tricks, he has most recently directed Too Much World at Once (National Tour 2023); Under Three Moons (Northern Tour 2019); Chip Shop Chips (National Tour 2018 and Northern Tour 2016); Plastic Figurines (New Diorama 2016 and National Tour 2015). Previous directing credits include After Life (Rose Bruford North); Earthquakes in London and Growth (ALRA North); JB Shorts 8 (Joshua Brooks).
Hannah Tyrrell-Pinder
Joint Artistic Director and Co-Founder
Hannah is Joint Artistic Director of Box of Tricks. Recent directing credits include: Last Quiz Night on Earth (urban/rural tour); SparkPlug (national tour, shortlisted for Alfred Fagon Award 2018); Narvik (national tour, nominated Best New Play MTAs, winner Best New Play UK Theatre Awards 2017); In Doggerland (national tour); Word:Play/NWxSW (Regional Tour); Picture a City (Everyword 2012, Liverpool Playhouse).
Company Associates
Lee Affen
Associate Sound Designer
Lee is a composer, music producer and sound designer from Manchester now based in Sheffield. A highly respected collaborator, Lee’s work is heard in theatre, dance, installation and film productions.
Lee is a member of The Bare Project and an associate artist with Imagine If Theatre and Box of Tricks.
Chris James
Creative Associate
Chris, who grew up in South Africa, has been surrounded by theatre his entire life.
He has 20 years experience, working extensively as head of sound, production engineer, and sound designer across the UK, as well as many countries around the world.
He has proudly been an associate artist with Box of Tricks Theatre Company for over 13 years.
Katie Scott
Associate Designer
Katie is an award-winning Designer based in the North West. She trained at The Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts and upon graduating was the inaugural recipient of the Liverpool Everyman & Playhouse Prize for Theatre Design. Since graduating, Katie has gone on to work across the UK designing a range of productions with a particular interest in new writing and productions for young audiences.
Board
Debbie Androlia
Debbie has a background in financial services and management consulting. She has held a variety of operational roles, including day-to-day management of an investment management firm, HR lead, organisational development lead, and regulated positions as Compliance Officer and Money Laundering Reporting Officer. She is currently an organisational behaviour consultant and personal and professional development coach. Debbie has an MA in law from Cambridge University and an MSc in Behavioural and Economic Science.
Amy Fisher
Amy is a Theatre Producer originally from Wigan, Greater Manchester. She is currently Head of Producing at Stephen Joseph Theatre Scarborough. She produces the in-house Productions and Co-productions at the theatre and leads on the programming of Visiting Work in both the studio and main space. Amy has previously produced for companies and venues including: Northern Stage, The Bare Project, Box of Tricks Theatre, 20 Stories High, Theatre Royal Plymouth, Eastern Angles Theatre Company.
Graeme Gregory
Chair
Graeme has 18 years’ experience at an international law firm in London and New York. Since leaving he has qualified as an accredited mediator and focuses on behaviour change in conflict resolution and organisational behaviour consulting. Graeme has an MA in Law Cambridge University.
Davinia Jokhi
Davinia started her career in the arts as an actress and producer with her company In The Red, but moved into arts administration on 2009. She worked for Arts Council England as an assessor before moving into the role of Literary and Talent Development Administrator at the Royal Exchange Theatre. After this, she worked for the Regional Theatre Young Director Scheme, working specifically with makers and directors. She is currently the Talent Development Producer; Theatre at HOME. She is also a non-executive director for Filament Theatre Company.
Nana-Kofi Kufuor
Nana-Kofi Kufuor is a Ghanaian-British playwright and screenwriter from Stockport. He has most recently had a play that toured in 21/22 called My Voice Was Heard But It Was Ignored and most recently finished working on Waterloo Road and has written for Hollyoaks.
John Quayle
John Quayle (BA HONS; FCCA) is a retired accountant with extensive financial and legal experience. He is a former Financial Controller and Company Secretary of major international trading companies, a former Trustee of a major North West hospital trust and is currently a Member Nominated Trustee of a large UK company pension plan.