Stellar Quines Artistic Director set to take up new role at A Play, a Pie and a Pint
Jemima Levick, Artistic Director and Chief Executive of Stellar Quines Theatre Company, is to step down from her role to take up the position of Artistic Director at A Play, a Pie and a Pint.
Her new position will see her become responsible for commissioning and overseeing the production of 35 new plays a year, the most of any theatre in the UK. Founded in 2004 by David MacLennan, A Play, a Pie and a Pint is the UK’s most successful lunchtime theatre company, every week presenting a brand new play at lunchtime at Òran Mór in Glasgow’s West End. Commencing her role in spring 2021, Jemima will lead the company in telling a diverse range of stories and uncovering new talent in Scotland and from further afield.
Jemima joined Stellar Quines, an award-winning touring theatre company based in Edinburgh which works to celebrate the value and diversity of women and girls, in March 2016. During her time with the company, she has directed a number of productions including This Girl Laughs, This Girl Cries, This Girl Does Nothing (a co-production with Imaginate), Bingo! (a co-production with Grid Iron), The Lover (a co-production with The Royal Lyceum and Scottish Dance Theatre) and The Last Queen of Scotland (in association with Dundee Rep and National Theatre Scotland). Most recently, she directed a new filmed version of Fibres by Frances Poet (a co-production with Citizens Theatre) which premiered online on 25th November and will be available to watch for free for a month. In addition to directing, she has also overseen Stellar Quines’ diverse programme of Creative Learning and Artist Development projects, and this year commissioned a new report Where are the women? Part 2, analysing numbers of women in creative roles in subsidised theatres in Scotland.
An award-winning director, Jemima was previously Associate and latterly Artistic Director of Dundee Rep where she directed more than 18 productions. She trained at Queen Margaret University in Edinburgh, and on a Scottish Arts Council Director Traineeship with the Royal Lyceum Theatre.
I’m absolutely delighted to be joining A Play, a Pie and a Pint in the spring of next year – to continue the brilliant work of David, April and Morag, and take the company into the next phase of its existence. As an organisation that started out as ‘an experiment’, it has long punched above its weight – the opportunities it offers are infinite, and feels particularly important now, at a time when live performance has stalled – PPP has a big part to play to help theatre bounce back.
While I’m delighted to be headed west, I am very sorry to be leaving Stellar Quines. It’s such a brilliant, vital organisation and one that has taught me a huge amount. I leave behind an exceptional staff team and board of governors, who I know will do all they can to work with the new artistic lead and take the organisation into its next chapter
Jemima Levick
Times there Was
& Times there Will Be.
We are thrilled to welcome Jemima Levick to A Play, a Pie and a Pint as the company’s new Artistic Director. All shortlisted candidates for the position were outstanding, our board were seriously impressed and ultimately spoilt for choice.
These are challenging times for theatre but Jemima’s vast experience and nous will serve her well, and we look forward to the magic she will undoubtedly bring to David MacLennan’s legacy at A Play, a Pie and a Pint. At Òran Mór we will work hand in glove with Jemima to ensure we hit the ground running when restrictions are lifted, and with the public behind us, we know great success will follow.
Colin Beattie, Executive Producer, A Play, a Pie and a Pint
Stellar Quines has been so fortunate to have Jemima as our leader. For the last five years she’s inspired the company and taken us to new creative heights, supporting women and girls in theatre. She’s also opened up transformational spaces for women whose voices are often unheard. We wish her all the best in her new role where she will continue to be a changemaker for theatre in Scotland and internationally.
Sue Moody, Chair of Stellar Quines Board
Photo credit: Jessica Hardwick
