My name is Lisa Hood and I’m a production manager and set builder with over 15 years of experience in a range of production roles.

Having worked as a technician, stage manager, carpenter, and technical manager in producing and receiving houses I have a breadth of knowledge suited to dynamic and hands-on production departments.  As a production manager I work practically with an emphasis on open communication and a can-do attitude. 

I am a skilled carpenter able to use my knowledge and experience to solve problems and come up with creative solutions to design challenges.  I use my practical experience to guide and manage a team in successfully creating exceptional productions, notably for the Orange Tree Theatre during my 6 years as technical and production manager.  I am passionate about maintaining a supportive working culture and I am constantly striving to improve access and equality in the teams I manage. 

As a freelancer I welcome the challenge of collaborating with different teams and strive to constantly develop my skills in all areas of theatre.  The creation of theatre is a collaborative process which I am committed to practicing at the highest standard and my previous successes allow me to support a team with optimism and a drive towards excellence.

“The creation of theatre is a collaborative process which I am committed to practicing at the highest standard”

Current Projects

◐ Technical Manager - Tara Theatre

◐ Production Manager – Dreaming and Drowning - The Bush Theatre

◐ Production Manager – Northanger Abbey – Orange Tree Theatre

◐ Associate Production Manager – Macbeth – English Touring Theatre (tour)

Career

History

◐ Production managing 14 main-house productions (alternating productions with the technical manager) and several education and touring productions.

◐ Supporting and deputising for the Technical Director in the running of the production department, including taking over as interim Technical Director to cover parental leave (5 months)

◐ Continually striving to improve productivity within the production department to streamline the production process.  Successes include implementing new induction procedures, overhauling the stage management recruitment and management process and identifying and improving pressure points during production week schedules to ease working conditions for visiting freelancers

◐ Acting as master carpenter for all set builds and large prop makes and managing the production workshop

◐ Liaising with and providing technical drawings for external construction companies

◐ Running the stage department for get-ins and get-outs including booking and managing freelance teams

◐ Managing production budgets and working with the technical director to control annual building maintenance budgets

◐ Managing workshop health and safety practice including inducting freelancers and technical assistants, managing COSHH and engaging with health and safety inspections along with the technical director

◐ Writing risk assessments and promoting a good health and safety culture throughout the organisation and for productions

◐ Maintaining good communication with other departments to aid the technical director in cross-department meetings and discussions

◐ Carrying out routine maintenance and repairs on the building including carpentry, decorating, plumbing, electrical and exterior works

◐ Supporting the creative teams through rehearsals, production weeks and previews.  Occasionally acting as duty tech for one-off events or as cover for duty techs

Technical and Production Manager

Orange Tree Theatre

July 2017  – March 2023

Freelance Theatre Professional

Various UK Based Theatres

  • Small scale studio production of new writing.

  • UK and international mid-large scale tour.

  • Edinburgh Fringe (Summerhall), Shoreditch Town Hall and North Wall Oxford small scale tour

  • UK tour to non-traditional spaces.

  • Medium scale production co-produced with Brixton House Theatre

  • Leading carpentry team in stud wall, cladding, purlin and roof construction in hand-built timber framed barn project.

  • Supporting National Theatre technical teams in delivering the online young technicians programme.

  • Construction of set and set dressing elements of ‘Dirty Dancing’ outdoor immersive production.

  • Award-winning 8-hander with a National Theatre transfer. Responsible for Stage Management team and show call management.

  • Production included UK tour. Responsibilities on tour consistent with Technical Stage Manager on book; managing fit-ups, relighting, operating LX and sound, managing get-outs and van driving.

  • Co-ordinating creative teams and managing budgets to deliver large scale touring production, including managing a trailer shoot on location. Contracting and managing production staff, venue liaison and running set build.

  • Managing fit-ups and get-outs, co-ordinating technical crew, calling LX and Flies, running prompt-side track.

  • Relighting and managing all stage management and technical aspects of small-scale tour. Co-ordinating with traditional and non-traditional performance venues. Managing transport and logistics and artist liaison

  • Working mostly on stage or rigging but also as LX or general tech crew. Experience in venues such as Royal Albert Hall, Palladium, Tate Modern.

Skills & Achievements

▽ IOSHH Managing Health and safety (theatre specific) trained ▽

▽ PASMA Mobile tower trained▽

▽ Experienced and trained in working at height ▽

▽ First aid trained ▽

▽ CAD including AutoCad, Vector Works and google Sketchup ▽

▽ Level 1 BSL ▽

▽ Basic plumbing and electric skills ▽

▽ Clean current car and motorbike licence ▽

▽ Experience driving large vans ▽