Our trustees
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Liz Schafer (chair)
Liz is Professor of Drama and Theatre Studies at Royal Holloway, University of London. Her publications include MsDirecting Shakespeare: Women Direct Shakespeare, Shakespeare and Eco-Performance History: ‘The Merry Wives of Windsor’, and (with David Bullen) Shakespeare in the Theatre: Phyllida Lloyd.
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David Haines
David is a retired consultant, working as a specialist in new technology products for some forty years, mostly in start-ups. In recent years he’s been concentrating on social enterprises in the adult social care sector; he’s currently volunteering for a new Community Land Trust in Devon, where he’s lived since 1997.
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Tzu-I Liao
Tzu-I is a former Hellenist turned product manager specialising in research big data. With an academic background in ancient Greek political rhetoric and stylistics, she now focuses on advancing research integrity and innovation through technology.
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Sigrun Wagner
Sigrun is a Professor of Sustainability and Associate Dean at Bournemouth University, following 16 years at Royal Holloway, University of London. She published the textbook Business and Environmental Sustainability and introduced Carbon Literacy Training to Royal Holloway, collaborating with Drama and Theatre colleagues, discovering her love of theatre in the process.
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Robert O'Dowd
Robert is Chief Executive of Rose Theatre Kingston, joining them in November 2011. He was previously been Chief Executive of Pontio, a Performance Art and Innovation Centre in Bangor North Wales. He is currently Vice Chair of Kingston First, on the board of Creative Kingston, a trustee of Creative Youth and chair of governors of Kingston Grammar School. In 2016/17 he was President of the Kingston Chamber of Commerce. His passion in work is to create and develop sustainable performing arts businesses.
John was a trustee for Gentle Furies from 2019 until his death in August 2025. He had been chair of the board since 2024. John was a real larger-than-life character: an Egyptologist, classicist, cultural historian, raconteur, and a prolific writer. He was known for his customary three-piece cream suits with accompanying pocket watch, distinctive spectacles, acerbic wit, and sonorous laugh. Coming to us with substantial governance experience, John played a crucial role in our transition into a charitable incorporated organisation. As trustee chair, he never stopped pushing us to be the very best, championing our vision and encouraging us to keep expanding our horizons.
In his popular social media posts, John would mark the passing of a star from yesteryear with a tribute ending in the Latin for ‘farewell’. So, as is only appropriate, here’s to a man who was truly one of a kind and who will be deeply missed: vale!