
Jack Thompson – Board Member
Jack started working in regional theatres across the country as a lighting engineer and designer of shows. He then moved onto designing lighting and project managing shows and events worldwide and in interesting places. He was Technical Director for Manchester City of drama 94 which started his move into large scale City wide event management. He has spent the last 16 years working for Manchester International Festival overseeing all technical aspects of all their shows and events and was instrumental in the creation of the New Aviva studios. He lives on Erringden moor above Hebden Bridge and enjoys Walking and mountain biking around the hills.
What expertise do you bring to the board ?
I am an expert in creating shows and events from a technical and legal aspect, including designing and creating found spaces and none licensed venues and in working with artists to realise their visions
What excites you about IOU – why are you a board member?
A northern company and local to me with an excellent reputation that has an approach to the Arts which is interesting and exciting -thought provoking and creative.
Tell us about a cultural experience, past or present that has inspired you the most.
There are a lot: MIF 13 was a truly fabulous Festival with an amazing amount of world premier class shows and new venues and found spaces opened across the city all within 18 amazing days. Creating Aviva Studios from the initial drawing I did on a Costa napkin to seeing it completed and open as a major new cultural space has to be another !