The SMA is governed by a Board of elected Directors who are all SMA Members. As a group the board are responsible for policy and the overall strategy of SMA, delegating management and running the SMA to staff who also advise the board. SMA Board directors are volunteers and actions that the board wish to take are decided by the board as a whole at regular meetings. Additional co-opted Directors with skills that the board feel will be useful to governance (and may not be SMA Members) may be invited to serve at the discretion of the SMA Board until the next AGM. A Director’s term of office is for three years, after which they may choose to stand again for election or retire.
Members who have questions or require information on strategy, Association policies and aims, and the overall direction of the SMA can address emails to the board at : board@stagemanagementassociation.co.uk
The SMA’s current Board of Directors
Remembering David Ayliff, Honorary Life President & SMA Co-founder 1916 – 2016
Terry Lee Dickson 
Chair
Area of work: Drama, Ballet, Opera and Musical Theatre.
In Stage Management since: 1968 (2024)
Terry trained in Stage Management at Central School of Speech and Drama. Repertory in Scotland and England led on to West End shows, then via opera to many years of Ballet in the UK and overseas. A seven year stint as Production SM in Canada was followed by ten years running a Scenery company in London.
TLD tried retirement but people kept phoning to ask him to take shows out on the road!
Principle interests are safety and respect in the workplace. In connection with that he has written Guidance Notes for the ABTT and the SMA, co-authored Reset Better Principles and Charter and Theatre Green Book’s Stage Management section.
Terry works as PM and CSM autumn to spring and as a commercial yachtmaster in the summer.
Emma Hansford, Deputy Chair 
Areas of work : Commercial Theatre, Repertory and Stage Management Education
In Stage Management since: 2002 (2023)
Emma trained in Stage Management at Rose Bruford College and has since worked in a freelance capacity at all levels of Stage Management in regional theatre, touring, West End and events. She now works in Stage Management Education, currently teaching at LAMDA and prior to this, she taught at both ALRA and Mountview.
Emma has been a member of the SMA for several years and joined the board in 2017, as she felt it was time to make a more active contribution to the Association.
Emma has represented the SMA at trade shows and through education visits, and is one of our board members representing the SMA at Stage Sight meetings.
Ruth Sidery, Treasurer 
Areas of work: Commercial Theatre, Repertory Theatre, Broadcasting, Film, Live Events and Stage Management Education
In Stage Management since: 1988 (2024)
Ruth trained at Bristol Old Vic Theatre School and has spent the last 30 years working in Stage Management, Production Management and across an enormously varied range of productions in theatre, festivals, corporate events, trade shows, television and film. She currently teaches Stage Management at Bristol Old Vic Theatre School whilst still continuing her professional interests.
Ruth’s credits include Company Stage Manager for Bristol Old Vic under Tom Morris’ tenure, Event Manager for BBC’s Antiques Roadshow, Showcaller for Rouge Events, Location Manager for BBC Productions and Script Supervisor for Ragdoll’s In The Night Garden and many more.
In addition to her extensive education work at BOVTS, where she was also responsible for developing the Film and Television strand for the Stage Management course, Ruth has designed and delivered short SM courses for Bristol University, University of the West of England, NODA and Theatre Royal Bath’s Education Department.
Having joined the SMA board in 2017, Ruth has a passion for keeping the standards of professional Stage Management high and championing the work that we do in an ever-changing and challenging world. Ruth represents the SMA in the South West of England, at PIPA networking meetings and also sits on the AAPTLE committee.
Frances Howell Deputy Chair
Areas of work: Commercial and Touring (2024)
In stage management since: 2017
For Frances, stage management is a second career having worked in professional financial services for 18 years prior to making the change to stage management in 2017. She especially enjoys working in musical theatre and on new writing.
Recent credits include Deputy State Manager for Simon Friend Entertainment’s productions of Drop the Dead Donkey (UK Tour) and The Crown Jewels, Deputy Stage Manager for Crossroad Pantomime’s Snow White and the Seven Dwarves (Mayflower Theatre, Southampton), and as Assistant Stage Manager for ROYO’s The Cher Show (UK and Ireland Tour).
Since joining the SMA Board in 2021, Frances brings her experience of working in the UK and Japan, and a reminder that new entrants can come into the industry at all ages and with different training backgrounds.
Vikki Chandler 
Vikki has been an SMA Member since 2019 (2025)
Vikki has been working in stage management in England and Wales since 2019. Vikki has a particular interest in new musicals, new writing, dance and puppetry. Working across all roles has given Vikki an insight into the joys and also into lots of the challenges that stage managers are currently facing in the industry. In joining the board of directors for SMA, Vikki hopes to support and celebrate stage managers and help ensure the theatre industry continues to evolve and recognises the versatile and highly skilled humans that facilitate the creation of theatre magic.
Sharon Calcutt Cheadle
Sharon is a stage and production manager with 24 years’ experience across theatre, film, and live events. Based in the UK, she has worked on an extensive range of productions including regional theatre, touring shows, film shoots, and immersive experiences.
As a passionate advocate for accessibility and inclusion, Sharon brings lived experience as a disabled practitioner to her work and is committed to improving working conditions, accessibility and representation across the industry. She has also lectured in drama schools, sharing her knowledge and experience with the next generation of theatre professionals.
She is particularly interested in fostering collaborative, supportive rehearsal rooms and backstage environments, and regularly contributes to conversations around best practice in stage and production management for disabled and neurodivergent professionals. Sharon is an Honorary member of SMA.
Garrin Clarke
Garrin was appointed as a director of SMA in March 2025
Lauren Patman
Lauren is a stage manager, show caller and pyrotechnician with 20 years of experience in theatre and live events. She has worked throughout the UK, in Europe and Australia on a varied range of productions including children’s theatre, opera, new writing, circus, devised theatre and musicals. In addition, Lauren has been involved in education for over 10 years and is currently a Lecturer at Royal Central School of Speech and Drama.
Lauren is keen to promote a sustainable, supportive and fairly paid working environment and to that end recently co-founded TwoCan Stage Manage, a job-sharing partnership and resource for those wishing to job-share in the industry. Lauren predominately works as a CSM, job-sharing with her TwoCan partner, Anna-Maria Casson, most recently on This is My Family ( Southwark Playhouse), Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Alma Mater and King Lear all at The Almeida.
Lauren wants to support both early career stage managers and those looking for a different way of working within our industry.
Lucie Warren (they/them)
Areas of work: Touring Theatre, Prop Making, Immersive, Festivals, Advocacy
In Stage Management since: 2022
Lucie is a freelance stage manager and prop maker with a love for all things backstage, whether it’s touring theatre, immersive experiences, family entertainment, or the organised chaos of pantomime and festivals. Since stepping into the world of stage management in 2019, Lucie has worked with companies including Tall Stories Theatre Company, Kenny Wax Productions, ATG, and Welsh National Opera, with credits spanning everything from family favourites to fast-paced festivals.
Currently completing an MA in Stage and Event Management at the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama, Lucie brings curiosity, care, and creativity to every production they’re part of. They’re also a passionate advocate for access, sustainability, and supporting early-career stage managers, values they now champion as a member of the SMA Board.