Ellen is the Membership and Communications Manager at Mercury Musical Developments (and Musical Theatre Network), joining the team in April 2020. She works across managing both the communications strategy and supporting and developing the membership body for both companies as well as championing new British musical theatre.

Ellen first entered the world of musical theatre when she was type cast as Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz in the school concert when she was five, because she had the right hair for it. Now still obsessed with hair, shiny shoes and musicals, she finds herself in a management role rather than an on stage role, having been an amateur performer, lighting and sound technician, and generally bad dancer before finding her place as an independent producer and arts marketer. She prefers to now help support talented artists achieve their goals and dreams, help sell shows, make shows happen and connect artists to people who might be able to help develop their work.

She’s an Aussie – Ellen moved to the UK in 2018 and previously worked as the London Communications and Advocacy Officer for Arts Council England, as well as producing theatre under her company Somewhat Awkward. Her background is in strategic communications and consulting, event management, communications and journalism, and has previously worked in Singapore, Vietnam, France, in government and private sector and across transport infrastructure and planning, higher education, and theatre of all forms.

Don’t be afraid of her Aussie accent or her pink hair, the fact she actually says G’Day all the time, and the jar of Vegemite she keeps in her desk.  The National Theatre Bookshop is her happy place in London.

Favourite musicals and things to listen to: Fiddler on the Roof, Hamilton, Sunday in the Park with George (but none of the Chromolume bits, just Act 1 and Move On), Waitress, Six, Hadestown (but the Original Cast Recording Live, not the Broadway Recording), Mamma Mia, The Phantom of the Opera, Once, Company, Once on this Island, Les Miserables……Look basically all the musicals.