End of an era at Half Moon

As we hurtle towards the end of the year, it reminds me that Half Moon is also fast approaching the end of an era. After a pioneering 20 years of leading Half Moon together, Chris Elwell and Jackie Eley are stepping down as Director/CEO and Administrative Director at the end of January 2025.

During their tenure, Half Moon has become a powerhouse of award-winning theatre for young audiences, alongside an extensive creative learning programme, rooted in the local community, that reaches 50,000 annually and engages those who are often excluded from arts activity.

Championing diversity and inclusion has been at the heart of all their activities. They have both been advocates of countless artists and have developed strong and strategic collaborations within Tower Hamlets and across the UK, creating and presenting stories that reflect the UK’s many varied and diverse communities and supporting under-represented artists in developing their practice.

Chris joined the company in 1997 and quickly secured funding from Arts Council England, opening the building as a public venue in 1998, with the participatory programmes and professional theatre work informing each other and having equal status.

During his 27 years, Chris has been a champion of professional work for young audiences and artform development. He has directed, written and adapted over 60 pieces of work, many award-winning, for audiences of all ages, from babies to teenagers. He has also spearheaded Half Moon’s On Demand digital streaming service of theatre for young audiences.

Jackie has been with Half Moon since 2004 and has been instrumental in securing the future of the company by prioritising access, innovation and environmental sustainability. She has spearheaded major capital campaigns of almost £2m to buy and refurbish Half Moon’s beautiful Victorian venue. Thanks to Jackie it is now a fully accessible young-person-friendly destination for audiences, participants and artists to enjoy.

Commenting on their departure, Chris and Jackie said: “It has been an absolute honour to lead Half Moon. Leaving the theatre company after more than 20 years is a bittersweet moment filled with immense pride. For two decades, it has been our absolute pleasure and privilege to nurture a community where young people, artists and theatre-makers can thrive through the transformative power of theatre. We are both enormously proud to be a part of the diverse, flourishing, creative hub that is Half Moon.”

Stephen Beeny is the Communications Manager at Half Moon