Mar 5, 2018
In this podcast, always possible chief exec Richard Freeman, talks to Chris Wootton about his career in arts leadership and running some the UKs most iconic theatre organisations, before suddenly quitting in 2017 to become a train driver. Until recently, Chris was a producer and theatre industry executive, initially working for over five years with the National Student Drama Festival before taking on senior roles at the Little Angel Theatre in north London. Well-respected in his sector, an executive director by his late 20s, working with some of the most talented artists and performers in his field. His job was secure, high-profile and it paid the bills. So what prompted such an unexpected move from this into a career of high responsibility, yet virtual anonymity, on Britain’s much-maligned railways? Why does Chris want to challenge himself to work differently, more like a machine that has to make critical decisions than a creative who juggles complex ideas? What does mindfulness have to do with it, and won’t train drivers be a thing of the past when the robots take over? What is the decision-making process for someone with a good degree from Oxford and from a family of city financiers and lawyers, to switch career and to retrain from scratch? This recording took place in a noisy pub, so apologies for some of the louder-than-usual background sounds. --- Useful links: www.littleangeltheatre.com www.nsdf.org.uk