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OUR STORY
The Door is Open
Launched in 2008, PurpleDoor have built a reputation for unapologetic theatre made with fun, heart and love.
We don't do ego or hierarchy, we are co-owned, co-created, and dedicated to finding and supporting new talent.
We give you the skills to succeed, support you as a person, and bring to life some of the greatest plays ever written.
THE REVIEWS
Observer, Ireland
Showcases the genius
of Shakespeare
Liverpool Sound and Vision
Everyone gets noticed
British Theatre Guide
Always puts a smile
on your face
Liverpool Echo
A joy to behold
Reviews Hub
The directing is masterful. Don't miss it
No More Work Horse
Electrifying.
An absolute delight
OUR TEAM
Everyone who works with PurpleDoor
co-owns and co-creates with us.
By joining our projects members gain training in artistic leadership and join our incredible pool of creators.
Company Management
Karl Falconer
Managing Director
Karl has a long association with the RSC Education department, and has worked as a freelance director for over 10 years. He is a graduate of the Shakespeare Institute and is currently completing his doctorate in arts policy and Shakespeare at Royal Holloway. In 2021 he was awarded a bespoke package of support and training from the School for Social Entrepreneurs in recognition of his potential as a future arts leader. He has written and contributed to many academic books on Shakespeare and performance, including Teaching and Learning Shakespeare Through Theatre Based Practice (Arden Shakespeare) , Shakespeare and Social Engagement (Berghahn) and Starting a Theatre Company (Routledge, 2023). He is part of the Northern Broadsides Arts Squad and the recipient of the Brighton Fringe Festival Best Newcomer Award, and the University of Salford Outstanding Alumni Achievement Award. He is a CMI chartered manager with a wealth of project management experience.
Artistic Direction
Em Dulson
Creative Director
Em is an emerging theatre director who has been mentored by PurpleDoor. She has experience working on large-scale immersive theatre, having recently written and directed The Monopoly Project for Leeds BID, which saw the city centre of Leeds turn into an immersive games board with actors playing the parts of tokens guiding audience members in interactive games and missions. She has been an assistant director on a number of research and development projects, most notably a production of The Cherry Tortured, where she worked alongside writer and director Aaron Posner to stage this adaptation of Chekhov’s work. She also co-directed As You Like It with PurpleDoor in 2024. Em is passionate about Shakespeare’s writing, and using movement and technology to make it accessible to a wider audience.
Funding and Programming
Eija Gibson
Associate Producer
Audience Development
Victoria Armstrong
Board Member
Victoria is an experienced and well-connected PR and communications professional, specialising in arts, culture and live entertainment. She has worked within a variety of organisations, including an internationally recognised conservatoire, major international theatre organisations and a leading UK Choir. She has supported these organisations and their projects with high quality creative communications campaigns and strategies. These were created using the relevant mix of media relations, brand communication, thought leadership, content creation and events; alongside ongoing horizon scanning and crisis communications management when needed. Projects have spanned high-grossing musicals, community activities, hospitality and artist development.
Business Management
Janet Butler
Chair
A Management Consultant and business industry thought leader, Janet has contributed to the development of education sector projects through public, private and third sector organisations with a focus on business risk and compliance, transformation management, fundraising and successful implementation. She has utilised her up to date economic awareness to identify current and future market challenges and opportunities to support the Third Sector through creative arts groups and community enterprises throughout the North West.
Theatre Directing
Nadia Papachronopoulou
Board Member
Nadia is a theatre director with a wide breadth of experience working in venues across the UK. She has worked as both a freelance artist and been part of theatre buildings, working alongside the artistic directors of the Orange Tree Theatre and National Theatre Wales as their emerging director. She has also worked with the BBC, National Theatre, Royal Lyceum, Regents Park Open Air Theatre, Kiln, Old Vic, Unicorn, and in the West End.
She has produced and directed many ACE funded projects working within theatre buildings and creating large community projects in non-theatre site specific spaces. Her practice focuses on new writing, community-based, and contemporary retellings of the classics designed to reach wider audiences.
Outreach and Education
Andrew Pritchard
Board Member
Andrew originally trained as an actor at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (LAMDA) where he has since returned to teach improvisation, physical theatre and Shakespeare. Previous roles include Secondary and Further Education Programme Coordinator at the National Theatre and International Operations Manager of creative arts charity Dramatic Need. He has worked in Creative Learning for both Ambassador Theatre Group and Qdos Entertainment Group, as well as a director for the Coram Shakespeare Schools Foundation and NT Connections. He has been a Senior Lecturer Practitioner in Drama, Performing Arts and Musical Theatre for the Cambridge School of Creative Industries and Artistic Director of the Mumford Theatre; he continues to work as an Associate Lecturer at Anglia Ruskin University. He is currently working as a Theatre Practitioner in Residence and Teacher of Drama alongside freelance writing, producing and directing.
Venue and Logistics
Leon Scott
Board Member
Leon has been a creative practitioner for nearly 20 years as musician, actor, composer and musical director. Having also spent all of his supplementary career path in hospitality running restaurants and bars, he now combines his artistic sensitivity and commercial understanding running arts organisations and venues.
Most recently Leon led the launch and opening of the Boulevard in Soho, London. A brand-new arts hub in Central London, adopting a progressive business strategy for financial independence without subsidy. The Auditorium is one of the most technologically advanced auditoriums, above a chic 55 cover dining room and entertaining space open 17 hours a day. Leon developed the vision and culture of the organisation, wrote policy and codes of governance, developed the strategy for delivery and employment of key members of staff to implement it. He was required to oversee all operational aspects of the venture, commercial and artistic output and capital completion of the ultra-modern building.
Associate Artist
Meredith Lewis
Associate Artist
SUPPORTERS AND MENTORS
'It doesn't seem a bad thing
to support PurpleDoor.
It's incredibly exciting.'
Stephen Fry
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