The future of live events panel

The events industry has been harder than many by lockdown restrictions, but never one to be thwarted the sector has pivoted quickly coming up with clever alternatives to big challenges. We’ve invited a panel comprised of industry heavyweights doing their best to implement creative solutions and new ways of realising brilliant events across the UK and beyond both on and offline.

Chaired by George Prince, Programme Manager at The Royal Albert, the panel includes Helen Swan, Director, Lucid Creates, Anthony and Teanne Andrews, Co-Founders, We Are Parable, Mark Hayward, Co-Artistic Director & Producer of The Pantaloons and Robyn Isherwood, Founder of Gisburne Park Pop Up.

From bringing programming and thus their audiences, online and outside our panellists are all doing their best to be clever, agile and swift. Join us for this in-depth discussion about the effects lockdown has had on their businesses, how they were able to pivot quickly and what that means for their businesses now.

More about our panellists

George Prince, Programme Manager at The Royal Albert Hall

George joined SASA Music in 2006 where he booked worldwide touring for artists including Buena Vista Social Club, Tinariwen, Tony Allen, Sam Lee and Eliza Carthy. After ten years there, George joined the Royal Albert Hall’s Programming team, focusing on the Royal Albert Hall’s Own & Co promotes where he worked on in-house productions with artists including Robert Plant, Kylie Minogue, Nine Inch Nails, Nitin Sawhney and Nigel Kennedy. George has also worked on titles including Star Wars, Jaws, Casino Royale, Jurassic Park, Harry Potter, Gladiator and ET, as well as developing unique live projects with composers Michael Giacchino and James Newton Howard.

Connect with George on the Creative Entrepreneurs’ Club

Helen Swan, Director of Lucid Creates

Helen is a Creative Director with a passion for meaningful event design. Her expertise is in prioritising human connection and building thought-provoking concepts and narratives that affect audience behaviour. Her goals are to build communities and raise awareness of social and environmental issues through accessible and beautiful design.

Connect with Helen on the Creative Entrepreneurs’ Club

Anthony and Teanne Andrews, Co-Founders, We Are Parable

This husband and wife team created an award-winning film exhibition company, We Are Parable to build a legacy of cinematic events that focus on creating unique experiences for Black audiences. Formed in 2013, their vision is to provide audiences in the UK the opportunity to experience Black Cinema in culturally relevant, innovative and memorable ways. In the past, they have worked with Oscar-winning filmmaker Spike Lee, Ryan Coogler, director of Black Panther, Idris Elba and Rapman.

Connect with Anthony and Teanne Andrews on the Creative Entrepreneurs’ Club

Robyn Isherwood, Founder of Gisburne Park Pop Up

With more than 11 years in London’s events industry, Robyn Isherwood is the founder of the UK’s first-ever social distancing festival, Gisburne Park Pop Up which achieved global acclaim for its innovative and ambitious response to the lockdown. Taking place for eight weeks with DJs, live entertainment, open-air cinema and boutique glamping, the festival was praised for its innovative social bubble pitches and one way systems.

Having cut her teeth at The Admirable Crichton, one of the largest and well-renowned event companies in Europe, followed by a time at GSP and then Lillingston, Robyn has worked across music events and the luxury events sector, travelling the globe planning multi-million-pound events in locations such as St Tropez, Ibiza, Puglia, Cannes, Tuscany, Hong Kong, Phoenix and Florence.

Mark Hayward, Co-Artistic Director & Producer, The Pantaloons

A founding member and co-artistic director of The Pantaloons, Mark Hayward is a playwright, actor, storyteller, director, producer, songwriter and father of three. He has adapted and directed numerous classics for the stage including The Odyssey, The War of the Worlds, Sense and Sensibility and Gulliver’s Travels. He produces indoor and outdoor theatre tours for the company, specialising in regional and rural venues, and has recently branched into radio drama and interactive online performances.

Connect with Mark Hayward at the Creative Entrepreneurs’ Club