Our Team

Patricia Stead is a highly accomplished and values-driven cultural leader with a strong track record of delivering impact across the arts, charitable, and public sectors. With over 20 years’ experience in strategic leadership, she is known for her collaborative, inclusive approach and commitment to the belief that the arts can drive meaningful social and cultural change. 

Most recently, Patricia served as Executive Director of Tron Theatre in Glasgow (2023–2025), where she led the organisation through a period of strategic growth and change. Her work focused on strengthening financial resilience, building sector partnerships, developing commercial activity, and embedding organisational sustainability. 

Prior to this, she was Director of Creative Arts at Cheltenham Ladies’ College, where she delivered inclusive and innovative arts programming, developed sectoral partnerships, and championed access to the arts across the college and its wider community. Her earlier leadership roles include Executive Producer at Dance City, National Director of Planning and Performance at Arts Council England, and Head of Culture at Hammersmith & Fulham Council. Across these roles, Patricia has overseen major national strategies, multi-million-pound investment portfolios, and complex stakeholder relationships across government, education, and the wider cultural sector. 

Patricia is a Clore Experienced Social Leadership Fellow and holds an MA in Sociology and English, as well as professional qualifications in coaching, business administration, and project management. She is deeply committed to social justice, inclusive practice, and sector development. 

With wide-ranging experience in organisational development, strategic planning, creative leadership, and governance, Patricia brings a thoughtful, forward-thinking approach to her work—placing people, impact, and purpose at the heart of everything she does. 

During her tenure, Amanda has spearheaded the establishment of operational infrastructure, overseeing everything from setting up the office and implementing robust IT systems to leading recruitment, procuring essential assets, and establishing a licensed bar and kiosk. These achievements culminated in her taking on the additional role of Depute CEO.

Following studies in Edinburgh, where she earned a BA in Book Publishing and Literature, Amanda, appointed March 2020, spent three years with the NHS supporting clinical audit delivery. She then worked for two years with SCRAN, administering grant funding to promote digital access to Scotland’s cultural heritage.

Amanda subsequently spent 22 years as Venue Manager at Howden Park Centre, delivering thousands of performances and supporting festivals, including Party at the Palace. Her responsibilities also included managing Linlithgow Burgh Halls, Bathgate Regal Community Theatre, and Craigsfarm Campus, and she played a key role in a £9m, three-arts-venue capital programme to enhance arts facilities in West Lothian.

Her interests include chairing Newyearfield Farm Community Centre for 25 years, developing local youth initiatives, serving as a District Officer for Livingston Rotary, and First Responder for West Lothian Council.

Matt’s career began 25 years ago in live music. He studied Sound Engineering at North Glasgow College and went on to work in recording studios, radio and audio post-production. He returned to live sound and theatre in 2013 as Technician at the Regal Community Theatre in Bathgate. In 2017 he joined the team at Platform as Technical Production Lead, before moving to Cumbernauld Theatre in the summer of 2019 as Technical and Production Manager in the final season in the Cottage Theatre. Matt had the task of overseeing the loose technical fit out at Lanternhouse across all 4 spaces, he picked thousands of pieces of equipment and claims to know exactly where they all are.

Every day is just the right amount of different to keep me excited. It’s great to see familiar faces come back through our doors, be it technicians, designers, or cast. When you boil it down my role is about helping people, giving them the things they need to perform or participate, the result is usually something special, it’s nice to help make those things happen.

Mark joined Cumbernauld Theatre Trust with over 22 years of diverse community engagement experience in the arts and cultural sector. Mark has worked as freelance Community Artist, Youth Participation Worker, Drama Artist, Out of Schools Arts Coordinator, Arts Development Officer, Performing Arts Development Officer, Family Support Worker, Senior Arts Officer and Development Manager. He has developed his community engagement practise working with organisations including Glasgow City Council, Citizens Theatre, East Ayrshire Youth Theatre, East Renfrewshire Council, Gorbals Youth and Community Theatre, Renfrewshire Arts, South Lanarkshire Council, South Lanarkshire Leisure and Culture and West Lothian Council. Mark has BA Hons Degree in Community Arts from University of Strathclyde and undertook an MA in Arts, Festivals and Cultural Management at Queen Margaret University.

Mark aspires to embed the communities of Cumbernauld into the heart of the new Cumbernauld Theatre and Cumbernauld Theatre into the heart of the communities of Cumbernauld, contributing to the process to develop Cumbernauld Theatre as an exciting and relevant arts and cultural hub for Cumbernauld and North Lanarkshire.

Rachel leads on all core marketing, sales and audience development strategies relating to the full range of live events, cinema and community activities.

She previously worked for NYCOS, Scotland’s youth singing organisation, where she led marketing campaigns for choir recruitment, concerts and education conferences, and played a key role in delivering digital projects throughout the pandemic. Her earlier roles include positions with Out of the Darkness Theatre Company, Aberdeen Box Office (His Majesty’s Theatre, Music Hall, and the Lemon Tree), Northern Ireland Opera and the Queen’s Film Theatre, Belfast. She holds an MA in Arts Management from Queen’s University Belfast.

Rachel is also a pianist and Music graduate from the University of Aberdeen. She plays clarinet and saxophone in Glasgow-based bands including Glasgow Community Concert Band and the boisterous SambaYaBamba.

Laura has a BA Honours Degree in Festival, Events and Hospitality management and brings a wealth of first-class customer service experience gained from twelve years’ experience working at The Gleneagles Hotel and Hilton Hotels in Front of House and Guest Experience Management roles.

Laura is also an Associate member with the Scottish Dance Teachers Alliance. Dancing has always been a passion of hers from the age of three years old. Laura trained in Highland, Tap, Ballet and Jazz. She has had many amazing opportunities through dancing. She was a performer in the opening ceremony of the Glasgow Commonwealth games in 2014 and has travelled all over including the St Gallen Tattoo in Switzerland.

Being from Cumbernauld Laura is looking forward to her role in leading the Front of House Team here at Lanternhouse.

Isabelle joined the Lanternhouse team in 2022 as a Venue Assistant and has since progressed through roles as Admin Assistant, Duty Supervisor, and now serves as Management Assistant in a newly created position.

In her current role, Isabelle provides essential support to the management team across Programming, Finance, HR, Marketing, Front of House, and Community Engagement. Before working in the arts, she gained experience across various sectors, including retail, hospitality and hotels.

Outside of work, Isabelle is an enthusiastic hillwalker with a strong interest in fitness. She also enjoys attending Lanternhouse Cinema to experience live theatre and ballet from around the world.

Karen works part-time as Finance Officer alongside Joanna and Jeanette. Her main role includes assisting with processing purchase and sales invoices, reconciling all theatre income, bank reconciliations and helping with other quarterly and annual accounting procedures.

Karen has a BA in Accounting from University of The West of Scotland and has over thirty years experience in various finance roles, mainly in the Financial Services sector. She also spent seven years at a Chartered Accountants until April 2022, when, post-covid, she decided to take the plunge and set up her own business as a self-employed bookkeeper. Karen became a fully qualified member of ICB (Institute of Certified Bookkeepers) in January 2022. In addition to working at Cumbernauld Theatre, she currently takes on bookkeeping work from a wide range of industries – including IT, Haulage, Estate Agents and many local charity organisations.

Karen enjoys live music and loves coming to the Theatre to see a variety of shows.

Jeanette started at our previous home in the Cottage Theatre in 1997, initially working in the box office where she enjoyed the fast pace of the busy show schedule and getting to know customers. Thereafter, Jeanette moved into finance and administration and has enjoyed learning some new skills. Over the years Jeanette has made a lot of happy memories and good friends working at Cumbernauld Theatre.