About us
We are proud to be the longest-running repertory theatre in the UK.
Each summer we welcome some of the best talent in British theatre to Frinton, bringing West End performances to the east coast. With a varied collection of productions taking place in the McGrigor Hall, followed by a musical spectacular in the Big Top Tent on the Frinton-on-Sea Greensward.
Frinton Summer Theatre is a registered charity. Every penny received in ticket sales, grant, sponsorship and donations goes back into ensuring the theatre can continue to produce a summer season year on year.
Our mission
We aim to provide engaging, inclusive and entertaining professional theatre for local community audiences and beyond. To keep the tradition of weekly summer repertory theatre alive in the UK and give opportunities to new talent in the sector.
Professionalism
To provide a high-quality professional experience for theatre goers both onstage and offstage, at all points of contact
Inclusiveness
To deliver accessible, wide-ranging and affordable theatre, encouraging new and diverse audiences, as well as satisfying our long-standing audience
Community
To bring creative wellbeing to people through our productions; enhance community spirit by engaging local people in the running of the
theatre, and bring business into our town
Talent
To support careers in the wider theatre industry by providing professional opportunities for new talent both onstage and behind the scenes
Heritage
To celebrate our heritage as a producing house and keep the art of summer repertory theatre alive in the UK, bringing old as well as new works to our stage
Our Trustees
Jacey Dias
Chair
Jacey has been a Trustee since 2016. She has a successful background in business management and Human Resources which she brings to her work for Frinton Summer Theatre. She was a Director of Brook Graham Ltd a global diversity and inclusion consultancy which she co-founded and ran for 15 years. Prior to that she held senior roles in Lloyds Bank and Shell. Previous Trustee roles include Chair of Governors at the Coopers’ Company & Coborn School in Upminster, Essex and Trustee for the Essex Cricket Foundation, the official charity of Essex County Cricket Club. She is a Freeman of the City of London, with a passion for theatre and the arts, and has a degree in history from Exeter University. Her main work for the Trust in 2019-20 has been researching and writing the history “Frinton Summer Theatre: 80 Glorious Years”.
Akbar
Kurtha
Akbar Kurtha has a career spanning film, television, and theatre. He first gained recognition in Gurinder Chadha’s acclaimed debut feature Bhaji on the Beach and went on to deliver a standout performance in the title role of Hanif Kureishi’s My Son the Fanatic. Akbar’s screen credits include playing Prince Mehshal in the political thriller Syriana alongside George Clooney and Matt Damon, as well as memorable roles in HBO’s House of Saddam, Fox’s 24, National Geographic’s Killing Jesus, and Sony’s global hit A Street Cat Named Bob. He is drawn to stories that challenge perspectives on identity, existence, and survival. Beyond acting, Akbar is an accomplished playwright and theatre producer. In 2007, he co-produced the award-winning Baghdad Wedding in collaboration with Soho Theatre, London. He is committed to championing culturally diverse voices and spotlighting talent that might otherwise be overlooked by mainstream audiences. In addition to his creative pursuits, Akbar has built a parallel career as a Production Accountant, working with major studios like Netflix, Amazon, and Sky. In 2024, Akbar made a return to the stage at the Frinton Summer Theatre after a 20-year gap. The experience rekindled his passion for live performance, and he is delighted to join the theatre as a trustee, eager to contribute to its ongoing legacy.
Ele
Jackson
Ele started her career as a Registered General Nurse then moved into the Life Science Industry to provide respiratory education to Health Care Professionals. She worked for GSK for a number of years in various different commercial roles across the UK and Europe gaining significant first and second line management experience. As Head of Operations Ele managed four teams and was responsible for driving business performance through collaborative working with sales. Marketing. Finance. IT and Governance and Compliance. She was involved in large event organisation and on the site leadership team to manage health and safety of the working environment. Ele now works in a Senior HR role across the Life Science and Health Industry. Ele has a passion for the theatre and has been a regular supporter of Frinton Summer Theatre for a number of years. Ele is delighted to have become a trustee in September 2024 and be able to support the theatre through this role.
Emily
Raymond
Helen
Cole
Helen's career in marketing and event management has allowed her to make a significant impact on various charities through her volunteer work. She has successfully raised their profiles and organised high-profile fund-raising events. Helen is passionate about our enchanting seaside town. She has enjoyed attending FST performances for over 20 years and is delighted to have joined the FST Trustees in 2022.
Jeanie
Armstrong
Born locally, Jeanie has been a Trustee of Frinton Summer Theatre since 2020 and has been attending the theatre for as long as she can remember. Jeanie worked as an International Partnerships Manager at the University of Essex, establishing and developing the University’s academic partnerships in South East Asia. An enthusiastic lover of the arts, Jeanie has a degree in Literature and attended Colchester School of Art. She is keen to promote this special theatre so that it can be enjoyed by generations to come.
Karen Waltham
Vice-Chair
Karen joined Frinton Summer Theatre as a Trustee in 2022 having a passion for ‘people’. With a professional career in Human Resources, operationally and strategically both at home and globally, Karen is now moving into semi-retirement, as a Consultant HR Director, specialising in the Global Maritime sector. Karen is a Maritime Skills Commissioner with the UK government, Chairing the People and Behaviours Project; is Chair of the Maritime Career Professionals Group with Maritime UK; and is Trustee on the Board of ISWAN. Karen was delighted to have been part of the choir supporting the FST production of Jesus Christ Superstar last summer. Seeing and feeling first hand the love and support people have for FST, was extremely special. As local residents, the Waltham family have been staunch supporters of the FST for decades, so Karen is delighted to be supporting the excellent work of the theatre at a personal level.
Patron
Jane Asher
“I’ve always felt proud to be part of the long list of actors who began their stage careers in Frinton, and I am even more proud to have been given the special honour of becoming the next Patron, following in the footsteps of my eminent predecessor.”
Jane Asher takes over the patronage of Frinton Summer Theatre from renowned stage and screen actor Richard Wilson, who has been supporting the Theatre for many years.
Artistic Director & Producer
Clive Brill
Among his many credits he produces “The Corrupted” by G F Newman starring Toby Jones and the comedy “Believe It” by Jon Canter, starring Richard Wilson, David Tennant, Sir Ian Mckellen and Sir Antony Sher. For many years he produced “No 10” by Jonathan Myerson starring Damain Lewis and Sir Antony Sher.
He has produced and directed “The Arkangel Complete Shakespeare” a 100 CD box set of all the bard’s plays featuring many of the UK’s best actors. It won a prestigious American award for radio production in 2000.
He was Head of Series Development for BBC TV Drama between 1990 and 1996, overseeing series such as “Seaforth”, “The House of Elliot” and “Spender”. He produced Neil Gaiman’s “Neverwhere” with Lenny Henry and “Crazy for a Kiss” starring Mike McShane.
In Radio he has worked on the soaps “The Archers” and “Citizens” and spent many happy years as the Commissioning Editor of Series and Serials. He has produced hundreds of hours of award-winning drama and readings for Radio 4.
In 2019 he directed “Black Chiffon” starring Abigail Cruttenden. It started at Frinton and transferred to Park Theatre in London where Abigail gained a nomination as best actress in the “Offies”. Most recently he produced the 'sell out' of Mike leigh's Abigail's Party at the Park Theatre in 2021. Following this clive has produced Ghosts of the Titanic a new play by Ron Hutchins, and David Copperfield - a wonderful reimagining of the classic by Simon Read.
Our history
Frinton Summer Theatre was founded in 1934 making it the oldest surviving ‘weekly’ Summer Repertory Theatre company in England. Theatre practices like that of Frinton Summer Theatre remain popular within UK theatre communities, continuing to give first jobs to graduating drama students.
Frinton Summer Theatre has seen the early career launch of actors such as Michael Denison, Vanessa Redgrave, Antony Sher, Neil Dudgeon, Owen Teale, Nickolas Grace, Jane Asher, Julian Fellowes and Lynda Bellingham.
Actors such as John D Collins, Jack Watling, Giles Watling and Patrick Mower have walked the boards at Frinton, and in 2019, Sir Ian McKellen brought his one-man show 'Shakespeare, Tolkien, Others and you’ to Frinton Summer Theatre.
Learn
more
You can learn more about our 80 year history in "Frinton Summer Theatre: 80 Glorious Years" by Jacey Dias.
You can purchase your copy from our box office shop at Connaught Avenue, or from the front of house when you next visit.
