OUR TRUSTEES
Adeyinka
Adeyinka is an Actor and Creative Producer, NGYT Alumna and Patron.
Since being a member of NGYT Theatre Company and graduating from Bath Spa University Addie has worked on a range of projects in film, tv and theatre. In 2016, she was the Festival Director of The British Urban Film Festival, where she programmed short films and feature films from the UK & internationally. Addie has produced short films including Naca, and The Lost Land Girl, which was funded by BFI.
As an actor, Addie has performed at Riverside Studios, The National Theatre, Orange Tree Theatre, Theatre 503 & Paines Plough Roundabout to name a few. Her TV & film credits include ITV & Prime's Riches, BBC's Champion, Grantchester, Top Boy, Temple and BBC Film Sicker.
Adeyinka has also previously been a Young Trustee for Tangled Feet Theatre.
Addie recently founded Veritas Productions, a multi-disciplinary production company creating bold, socially conscious work across film, theatre and creative events.
Addie's work centres on powerful, character-driven storytelling that explores identity, community and the human experiences that shape the world around us. Blending emotional honesty with creativity and collaboration, she develops projects that amplify under-represented voices and create meaningful opportunities for emerging artists.
Alongside building Veritas Productions, Addie has worked extensively with a variety of communities and is passionate about supporting the next generation of creatives to tell their own stories.
She is driven to improve access to the arts for those who have traditionally been excluded from the industry.
Through Veritas Productions, Addie is committed to creating work that feels authentic, grounded in truth, and capable of sparking conversation and lasting impact.
Adeyinka Akinrinade - she/her (BA HONS)
Chair of Trustees
Actor/ Producer/ Film Maker
Nathan
Nathan is a Dance Artist & Actor from Luton and joined NGYT Theatre Company and Meraki Dance Company in October 2022 performing in both shows 'It’s Just About Love Really, Isn’t It?' and 'Be Still The Tide'.
Nathan is currently completing his BA (Hons) Dance Degree at Kingston University and is currently dancing professionally for Boy Blue and with ZooNation's Youth Dance Company.
"NGYT does a really good job in showing support instead of just saying it. When I was asked to join the team, it felt really good knowing that NGYT believed in me and my capabilities... I feel really honoured that I was given this opportunity as it’s something that I am very passionate about..."
Most memorable theatrical experience: Watching a modern take of Antigone at Regent’s Park Theatre is the first thing that comes to mind to be honest. It blended in so much movement and dance with the whole Greek Tragedy element which really inspired me in how dance and theatre can be combined and how many opportunities it can bring to performance :))
My local hidden gem/hero: Luton Basketball Club (LBC) and Luton Basketball Development League (LBDL). Before I took up dance I was a big big fan of basketball and I think a lot of the confidence that I gained was through playing basketball and the people who run LBC and LBDL are fantastic in making sure you feel welcomed and prioritise you.
I can’t live without: Music. Genuinely music might be one of the most important things in my life. Whether I’m up or down music just gives this outlet to express myself in ways I don’t know anything else could. Whether it be when I’m dancing or playing instruments, music is something I feel like it's a very powerful weapon into a person’s mind.
Nathan Bucio- He/him
Trustee / Dancer / Actor
Sarah
'I was born in Luton and then lived in Bedfordshire before settling here about 25 years ago. I went through a lot as a young person, and this taught me how resilient but also how vulnerable young people are. I hope that I can always remember this as my husband and I raise our daughter.
I love Luton and have felt so welcomed and at home here, from my first jobs in a pub and a bookshop, through all my years working and studying here. I’ll always champion this town and it's people. I want to make connections, have conversations with everyone I meet – “How are you? What’s happening for you today?”
Why you wanted to be a trustee at NGYT and your goals for the charity:
I wanted to be a trustee for NGYT as I have seen the wonderful work they do for young people in Luton. It's so important that young people feel seen and heard, and are able to live their lives with creativity and joy. NGYT provides spaces where that can happen. My goal for NGYT is ambitious: a space of their very own. And you know what they say: “If you can dream it, you must do it”!
Most memorable theatrical experience:
Some incredible moments from a piece by Trestle that I saw in Bedford in the early 90’s still live rent-free in my head. But then I also saw Tamsin Greig in Twelfth Night and that was pretty hard to top!
My local hidden gem/hero:
Fifty9 for the amazing breakfasts OR The Brickies for the amazing vibes!
I can’t live without:
Family and friends, I’m so so lucky.
Sarah Doherty - She/Her
Trustee
Jerome
Jerome Leon - He/Him
Trustee / Musician/ Actor
Manveer
Manveer Singh - He/Him
Trustee / Actor
Jacqui
'Born in the L&D (hard not to sing it Springsteen style) in 1968, I truly am Luton born and bred. Schooled at St Matthew’s (infant and junior) and Putteridge High School, a would-be thespian from the early years, always in the school production, blessed with an okay voice and my dad’s comedic timing. As a sulky teenager, who missed out on going to drama college due to finances, I signed up for a youth drama group at Luton’s 33 Arts Centre. This is how I know how being part of something like NGYT can change your life and make your life, because it did. You find your people. You flourish. You get to perform at local venues and you get to see the heart of the art community. Despite my theatrical ambitions, I ended up working in law (popped along to Barnfield College to do a secretarial course so I could type up scripts and ended up doing the Diploma of Legal Secretaries Course). Regrets, I’ve had a few, but 40 years working in law as a secretary/PA and now EA, has been an exciting adventure, not least as the lion’s share was in Westminster and now St Albans.
Luton matters to me, hence being on the Save Our Town Committee. Smother negativity in positivity, look for the good and there is a plenty of it to be found. Not least at the heart of NGYT and its principles. A huge Luton Town FC fan too, when we got promoted to the Premier League, a promise that I would dye my hair orange if we ever did so (pretty safe bet I thought) happened. I also added Luton as a middle name by deed poll. I think that says all you need to know about the type of me I am.'
Most memorable theatrical experience:
Treading the boards - a member of the audience just getting up on stage with us at the Luton Library Theatre and us just acting around him. Being in Miss Julie at the Watford Palace Theatre, almost felt posh being in a Strindberg play. But, as an audience member, going to see Made In Dagenham the musical, when your friend writes a musical there is nothing quite like the pride of seeing it come to fruition on stage.
My local hidden gem/hero:
I am going to say David and Laura Lloyd. The youth of our town need to see the goodness here, or they will leave. We cannot have them all leave.
I can’t live without:
Black coffee, positivity and it would seem, Luton.
Jacqui Andrews - She/Her
Trustee
Michelle
Michelle joined NGYT in 2014, where she was a member of Theatre Company until 2018. She performed in shows including "In Doing Nothing I Found Me", "The Butterfly Catcher" and "Laced Within Our Borders", and enjoyed a number of extra acting opportunities through NGYT - such as reading scary stories at Halloween, and working as an Elf at Christmas!
Michelle studied Politics, Spanish and Sociology at Durham University, as well as a Masters in Education, Globalisation and International Development at Cambridge University.
After working and travelling in Spain and Latin America, she moved to London and has spent the past two years working as a researcher at the Education Endowment Foundation. Her work focuses on understanding the causes of the attainment gap in education, and developing evidence-informed approaches to improving outcomes for disadvantaged students.
In her spare time, Michelle enjoys dancing salsa, running, boxing and taking every possible opportunity to travel!
Why you wanted to be a trustee at NGYT and your goals for the charity:
"Being part of NGYT was such a formative experience for me as a teenager, providing me with a safe space to grow in confidence and sharpen my beliefs and values. It is an absolute privilege to be able to work with NGYT again and - hopefully - meaningfully shape the work and impact of such an amazing charity.
I think that the Trustee role also aligns closely with my professional work. I hope to offer a research-driven perspective on the challenges and opportunities shaping NGYT’s activities. With an understanding of the research around arts interventions and their potential to improve outcomes for young people, I believe there is scope to use this evidence to inform both the strategic vision and on-the-ground work of NGYT.
Most importantly, I hope that NGYT continues to serve, welcome and inspire many more young people for years to come, and I am excited to contribute to its growth and success!"
Most memorable theatrical experience:
Walking into NGYT for the first time when I was fourteen, with no theatrical experience and no idea how much this company would impact my life.
My local hidden gem/hero:
My Dad! He might not be from Luton, but he's built a strong reputation since he moved here. If you spot an Irish man handing out home-grown vegetables, that's probably him.
I can’t live without:
Cliché, but my friends and family…
