New chapter at Half Moon

Half Moon is entering an exciting new chapter with the appointment of Bradley Travis as Artistic Director and Louise Allen as Executive Director, ushering in fresh leadership and vision for the much-loved young people’s theatre in Limehouse. The duo will take on a joint Chief Executive Officer model, succeeding long-serving leaders Chris Elwell and Jackie Eley, who stepped down in January.

Bradley comes with a wealth of experience in theatre and youth arts having been Head of Learning and Participation at English Touring Opera, where he played an important role in commissioning award-nominated productions for young audiences. A former opera singer and passionate advocate for accessible theatre, Bradley is eager to build upon Half Moon’s legacy.

“I am delighted to be joining Half Moon, whose mission to give all young people an opportunity to experience the best of theatre and the wider arts both as a participant and an audience member, is one I have been devoted to in my professional career,” said Bradley.

“It’s an honour to take the baton from Chris and Jackie and work with Louise to build upon Half Moon’s reputation for developing under-represented artists and making exceptional and groundbreaking work with and for young people across our community in Tower Hamlets and beyond.”

Louise brings significant leadership experience from Applecart Arts, Yorkshire Dance and Protein Dance, where she contributed to an award-winning community project. A strong advocate for arts accessibility, Louise has worked with renowned organisations like Matthew Bourne’s New Adventures and the BBC Concert Orchestra.

“I am thrilled to be joining the team at Half Moon, a much-loved gem in the heart of London’s East End,” said Louise.

“Half Moon champions new writing and gives equal status to participatory and professional programmes. I’m excited to build on the impressive legacy of Chris and Jackie and take Half Moon forward into its next phase.”

Ben Jones, Chair of Half Moon, expressed enthusiasm for the new leadership: “Bradley and Louise bring incredible experience and a passion for working with young people across various art forms. We’re incredibly excited to welcome them to the team.”

With their appointment, the future looks bright for Half Moon and the young people it serves. Exciting times ahead indeed!

Stephen Beeny is the Communications Manager at Half Moon