Paula Hammond

Paula studied teacher training and art at Manchester Polytechnic. Her first job was as a box office assistant at the Palace Theatre in Manchester during the mid-1980s. She moved to London in 1985 and for 15 years she worked for various venues including the South Bank Centre, National Film Theatre, Orange Tree Theatre and Lyric Theatre Hammersmith – posts included fundraising, marketing and booking late night cabaret and comedy.

In 2000 Paula left London for Somerset and was appointed Director of the Merlin Theatre in Frome. She invited Mark to be an Associate Artist and supported the company with rehearsal space and programmed sell-out performances of Sea of Bones and Love and War. She left the Merlin in 2010 but support for the company continues with both Made in Heaven and Dracula being presented.
Since August 2014 Paula has worked on a freelance basis as a Programmer for Lighthouse, Poole’s Centre for the Arts – the largest arts centre in the South West. She joined the Board in 2007 and is Company Secretary. She lives in Frome with her husband, Terry and dog, Betty.