Meet the team behind Feelgood Theatre Productions
Caroline Clegg - Artistic Director
Caroline, an award-winning theatre and opera director founded Feelgood in 1994, producing and directing all their shows to date. She is passionate about telling stories that make a difference and can uplift an individual or a community. She creates cross art form collaborations in music, theatre, opera and dance in both traditional spaces and at site-specific locations. At Feelgood she has developed a three tier mentoring programme that gives an uplift to emerging artists of any age.
Born on a farm in Bury, Lancashire she left school at 16 and went to London to study as a dancer and actress. She had a rewarding performing career before turning to directing.
As a mature student Caroline did a Master Degree in Music and Drama at the University of Manchester, and she now holds a PhD from the RNCM (the creation of site-specific theatre and music). Caroline was named Lancashire Woman of the Year, was awarded the Angel Award for Excellence and the John Thaw Fellowship by the University of Manchester University. In 2007 she was awarded the Manchester Evening News Horniman Award for her ‘outstanding contribution to live theatre’ and a High Sherriff Award in 2018. In her opera work Caroline has had two nominations for an International Opera Award, a UK Theatre Award and a Sky Arts South Bank Award.
Caroline continues to relish creating hugely varied and exciting challenges and would also like to work in traditional spaces with building based companies to extend the possibilities not only of site specific work but of creating innovative collaborations.
Thomas D Hopkinson - Associate Musical Director
Thomas is a freelance Bass Opera Singer and Vocal Animateur and Musical Director. As a Musical Director Thomas has worked with Feelgood Theatre Productions (Midsummer Night’s Dream 2017 and Romeo & Juliet 2018), RNCM Young Company (AMD Singin’ in the Rain 2017), The Academy Singers (2015 – present), Xaverian College (Chamber Choir 2015) and Nottinghamshire Scouts (Gang Shows 2010, 2012 & 2015).
As a Vocal Animateur he has worked with RNCM Young Company, Leeds Youth Opera, Xaverian College and Bishop Grosseteste University. Thomas is the Vocal Animateur in Residence for The Piccadilly Symphony Orchestra projects include; Friday Afternoons (Vocal Animateur & Chorus Master 2018), Collyhurst Sings (Vocal Animateur & Chorus Master 2016), The Planets (Chorus Master 2016) and Jason Manford Christmas Carol Concert (Chorus Master 2015).
Thomas has sung with Opera North, Longborough Festival Opera, Wexford Festival Opera, Westminster Opera, Opera on Location, The Halle, The Philharmonia and multiple choral societies.
Our Board of Trustees
Andy is a Wild man from Borneo by birth, a Wandering Minstrel by profession, much travelled due to parentage, profession and inclination. Born in Kuching-Sarawak, educated at a boarding school in Bradford, graduated from Loughborough University, he has lived and toured in England, Wales, Scotland, Germany, Belgium, Sweden and Finland as actor/performer/director.
As well as theatre, Andy has a passion for cricket, rugby union, golf, sailing, swimming and skiing, films, concerts, music and adventures with his daughters! He also loves food and wine and can never say no to a challenge, hence his association with Feelgood, famed for theatre with challenges!
Andy was an actor for 17 years and employed as director, writer, singer/songwriter and compere. He holds a BA (Hons) Degree in Drama, FHEA, PGCE and has been lecturing in Drama in the Northwest and Europe for 20 years to 4 to 64 year olds and has performed before 2 - 2,000 people. He was Head of Performance at Bury College for 20 years and is now going back into the industry he loves.
Andy Tomlinson, Chair
Kath was an elected member of Manchester City Council from May 1979 until June 2004 when she decided to stand down having served 25 years, during which she had held several positions of responsibility. Kath now works as a consultant to a number of companies offering support & advice on local government, training & re-generation issues. She was one of two Deputy Leaders on the City Council for 12 years and was instrumental in securing the successful bid by the City Council to host the City of Drama 1994, during which she was heavily involved in a hectic schedule of events, performances, ceremonies and functions which ensued throughout the year.
She also served on a number of other Boards and bodies, including Manchester Airport, MOSI and MIDAS (Manchester Inward Development Agency. On a personal level, she is involved with Central and South Manchester MENCAP and Gateway Clubs, was a founder member of South Manchester Mencap in 1974 & served on the Executive Committee for over 20 years.
Kath Robinson, Trustee
Tom Newall is an exciting young conductor working across multiple genres both in the UK and abroad. He is Music Director of Salford and Congleton Choral Societies; leads the University of Warwick Symphony Orchestra, and is Director of the Choral Programme at the University of Manchester.
Most recently Tom made his debut at Buxton International Festival in 2019, and at Teatru Manoel in Valletta, Malta in 2023. He has also led Wilmslow and Bolton Symphony Orchestras, National Festival Orchestra, Sheffield Philharmonic Orchestra and Manchester Camerata. In 2014, Tom founded Piccadilly Symphony Orchestra, with a focus on working in the community with young people and their families. He also leads singing based workshops in schools for Buxton Opera House, Blackburn Cathedral and Opera North.
Tom began his musical journey as a singer and is very passionate about the many benefits every young person can gain from singing.
Tom Newall
Trustee
From a chippy opposite Heaton Park and still in Heaton Park twice a day !
Noreen was the first Shirley Valentine. She went on to direct Coronation Street (for which she won a BAFTA), Emmerdale, Heartbeat, Shameless, Scott and Bailey, Transitions for the poet Owen Lowery, Our Girl, Moving On and Broken (for which she received an RTS North Craft Nomination).
All the while, she has also directed Theatre at, amongst others ... Bolton Octagon, Oldham Coliseum and Scarborough plus .. Withering Looks for Lip Service (which won 'The Critics Award for Comedy' at The Edinburgh Festival and 'The Manchester Evening News Best Touring Show' Award).
Noreen has been a friend and supporter of Feelgood for decades, Associate Director since 2004 and is, in her own words, "very proud to be associated with Feelgood!"
Noreen Kershaw
Associate Director
Amanda studied at The Arden School of Theatre and was an actor for many years before deciding to focus on raising a family. Along the way, she co-founded the 24:7 Theatre Festival (Manchester), lectured at The Mill School of Performance (Leeds) - and, more recently, worked in film and TV production. There’s always a personal project bubbling away in the background and sometimes they even see the light of day!
After knowing Caroline for many years, she is delighted to be a part of the team bringing ‘SLAVE - A Question of Freedom’ back to the stage.
Amanda Hennessy
Artistic Administration