Who We Are

Elise founded Taking Flight Theatre with co-founder Beth House in 2008. It was an idea cooked up on a walk around the beautiful- & very accessible- Stackpole Estate, a National Trust property in West Wales.

Taking Flight will always be passionate about challenging notions of who gets to enjoy theatre & who gets to make it.

Elise Davison

Artistic Director

Elise is responsible for the overall artistic vision of the company. She is studying level 6 British Sign Language and has lots of experience embedding creative access.

Louise, a middle aged woman with flowing culry grey hair, wearing blue leans against a wall smiling. On the right are the icons for BSL, video and audio description to show that if you click the image it will take you to info in these formats

Louise Ralph

Executive Director
Louise joined the team in 2016 thanks to Arts Council of Wales Creative Steps funding, & set to work immediately to ensure the quality of administration at Taking Flight matched the high standards set on stage.

Steph Bailey-Scott

Participation, Access & Inclusion Officer

Steph is a profoundly Deaf actress, theatre maker and workshop leader. She is the lead facilitator our  youth theatre for Deaf and Hard of hearing young people something that she is extremely passionate about! She also leads our Deaf Awareness training. 

Bethan, a young woman with flowing brown hair, wearing a pink top stands in front of a window smiling. On the right are the icons for BSL, video and audio description to show that if you click the image it will take you to info in these formats

Bethan Dawson

Operations Manager

Bethan joined Taking Flight in 2024. As Operations Manager, she has day-to-day responsibility for Finance, HR and Administration across the company. She also works across all our projects, supporting the team and the freelancers we work with. 

Tafsila, a blond haired blind South Asian woman smiles outdoors, she is wearing white and her hair is tied 'half up, half down'. On the left are the icons for BSL, video and audio description to show that if you click the image it will take you to info in these formats

Tafsila Khan

Access Coordinator

Tafsila is the Access Coordinator at Taking Flight Theatre Company. She’s responsible for sourcing access providers for both the Taking Flight team & any external organizations seeking this service.

A blond haired woman with blue eyes smiles for the camera, her lips closed

Elin Phillips

Youth Theatre Assistant

Elin works with Steph on delivering the Youth Theatre. Elin grew up in Bridgend and studied acting at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama. Elin is one half of the theatre company Criw Brwd and has Level 2 BSL.

Board of Trustees

Sara Beer: Actor, Disability Arts specialist
Alan Thomas- Williams: Achievement Officer for the Expressive Arts Curriculum, Cardiff Council
Andrew Tinley, co-chair: Operations & Access Manager, Derby Theatre
Ben Owen Jones: Actor
Dr Marta Minier: Associate Professor of theatre, media & drama
Hadley Taylor, co-chair: Stage Manager
Roger Hudson: Drama facilitator, Educator
Lisa De Benedictis: Lawyer
Click here for more information on our Board.

Creative Collaborators

Tafsila Khan: Blind consultant and blogger
Becky Davies: Artist, Designer, Lecturer
Alistair Sill: Audio Describer, Actor
Sam Bees: Actor, Writer
Ruth Stringer: Designer
Jenna Preece: Actor
Mary-Jayne Russell de Clifford: Theatre Maker and facilitator
Garrin Clarke: Stage Manager/Production Manager and Lighting Designer
Click here for more information on our Creative Collaborators

Early Career Creatives

Emily Rose Corby: Theatre Maker, Deaf Creative Mentor
Mason Lima: Artist, Designer
Ciaran Fitzgerald: Writer
Macsen McKay: Actor, Theatre-maker
Bones Carter: Artist, Designer
Click here for more information on our Early Career Creatives
A drawing of a smiling child in black marker on a yellow background,the word Smile is in white bottom left

Awards

A few awards we've received for our work:
  • 2024 Shortlisted Fantastic for Families Award
  • 2024 Winner J.M. Barrie Education Award, Action for Childrens Arts (Steph Bailey Scott)
  • 2024 Shortlisted Scope Awards, Most Inclusive Workplace
  • 2024 Shortlisted St Davids Award (Elise Davison)
  • 2022 Shortlisted Fantastic for Families Award
  • 2017 Action on Hearing Loss Excellence Wales Award Runner up
  • 2016 Bridgend Coalition of Disabled People’s 10 Year Anniversary Award for Changing Lives
  • 2016 Wales Theatre Award Best Ensemble The Winter’s Tale
  • 2014 Third Sector Cymru Runner Up Most Admired Organisation
  • 2013 National Diversity Award, Community (Real Human Being)
Taking Flight Logo

Taking Flight Theatre
Chapter Arts Centre
Market Rd
Canton, Cardiff, CF5 1QE
029 2023 0020

Youth Theatre meets at:

Atrium
University of South Wales
86-88 Adam St
Cardiff CF24 2FN

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Donate

Support Taking Flight  with your generous donation. You can donate securely through our website (below) or send a cheque, payable to Taking Flight Theatre. (If you are a UK taxpayer, please click the Gift Aid option when donating online).

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Members of:

A selection of logos: WCVA, Tempo, Creu Cymru, TYA Cymru, Outdoor Arts UK, The Cardiff Committment and Passport to the City
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