Neotists CIC, the community interest company championing arts and the creative industry across St Neots and the wider Huntingdonshire area, is delighted to announce that Rachel Tackley MBE has become its newest patron.

Rachel is an award-winning theatre producer, consultant and curator. She is currently Interim Creative Director and Co-Chief Executive of the Arts Theatre Cambridge, where she has led the theatre’s successful reopening and renewal following its major redevelopment. She is also Producer for Heartaches Ltd, currently working on Sherlock Holmes and the 12 Days of Christmas, opening at Alexandra Palace this December, and has recently worked with Arts Council England on the development of its new Incentivising Touring Fund.

Over the course of her career, Rachel has held senior leadership roles including Creative Director of Riverside Studios, Executive Director of Chichester Festival Theatre, Director of English Touring Theatre and Head of Programming at ATG Entertainment. She also served for six years as President of UK Theatre, the UK’s leading industry body. Rachel is Chair of Bretforton Theatrebarn in the Cotswolds and a Director of Lyric Hammersmith Productions, and sits on the Advisory Board of the Cambridge School of Creative Industries at Anglia Ruskin University.

Rachel, who lives locally with her family, has been a Neotist for many years and brings decades of national and international theatre expertise to the organisation as it continues to grow its work supporting creative professionals across the district.

“We are thrilled to welcome Rachel as a patron of Neotists CIC. Her achievements in theatre, from Chichester and Riverside Studios to her leadership at the Arts Theatre Cambridge, speak to exactly the kind of ambition and quality we want to see reflected in our own community. Having someone of Rachel’s standing and experience backing our work is a real vote of confidence in what we are building in St Neots.”

Richard Slade, CEO and co-founder, Neotists CIC