Lucinda is trained in HR and theatre and has huge experience of working in the performing arts as well as a passion for the arts in general. This combined expertise and understanding allows her to advise on a whole range of HR issues in the entertainment industry.
Since 1993, Lucinda has worked in theatre production, human resources, welcoming disabled people and events. With her many years of experience in advising upon, creating and negotiating terms and conditions, she has expert knowledge of employment relations used in the theatre, opera and ballet world.
Lucinda has worked in both subsidised and commercial theatre, in the West End and across the UK, before moving to Manchester from London in 2015. She now works with small, middle and large-scale dance, opera and theatre companies as well as museums on all things difficult - devising tailor-made solutions, contracts and policies.
Lucinda advises Boards and Executive teams in theatre, opera, ballet, museums and arts businesses, from small to large, on best practice and behaviours and guides them through the process of making any changes.
Lucinda acts as a guide and strategist for executive teams wishing to change working conditions and pay. She audits existing contracts, house agreements, collective agreements and staff handbooks against statutory employment law requirements and national benchmarks for a range of clients. She advises on the disadvantages and advantages of what might be asked for, the options available to the client along with any negotiation strategies and the process required to implement any changes. Lucinda then re-writes the documentation as required.
Previouly from October 2008 until July 2015, Lucinda was Head of Employment Relations for The Society of London Theatre (SOLT) and UK Theatre (UKT).
Whilst there she negotiated with Equity, the Musician’s Union, BECTU and the Writers’ Guild on terms and conditions for actors; stage managers; musicians; technicians; front of house, box office and stage door staff; choreographers; designers; directors; fight directors; ballet dancers; opera singers; writers and guest artists in the West End and throughout the UK.
Lucinda advises on restructuring and change management, dismissals and redundancies. She has evaluated roles and responsibilities through interviews, consultations and documentation. She identifies the position with biggest positive impact and least detriment before providing documentation, costings, briefings and advises on risk mitigation.
Lucinda provides day-to-day HR support and independent HR advice, including employment law, on a range of day-to-day matters of managing people within the confines of law and best practice advising on how best to resolve issues. She has devised several policies and procedures as well as appraisal systems.
Lucinda’s work has involved many extremely complex and difficult investigations. These situations involve a specific disciplinary or grievance procedure or arise from a complaint or concern being identified. Lucinda works with those involved to investigate the issue and presents her finding and recommend an appropriate resolution. Subjects covered have been:
inappropriate behaviour / sexual harassment
bullying and harassment
physical fighting
drugs and alcohol use
mental health concerns / instability
disability, racial and sexual discrimination
unsavoury behaviour eg: passive aggressive; making comments on Facebook, taking sides borne out of jealousy from not having received a promotion
senior managers wishing to remove a long-serving employee
Or, to be specific, welcoming disabled people to the theatre. Lucinda works with companies to understand and develop their approach to disability and access, advising on the requirements of equality legislation to create a strategy with them. She works with all parties to identify the barriers faced by disabled audience members, staff and artists and devising and implementing policies to improve access for all.
Since starting her consultancy in July 2015, Lucinda has worked with or is working with the following organisations:
Actors Benevolent Fund |
Metal Rabbit |
ArtReach |
Mountview |
Association of British Orchestras |
National Opera Studio |
Ambassadors Theatre Group |
Natural History Museum |
Bamboozle |
National Portrait Gallery |
Battersea Dogs & Cats Home |
Opera Holland Park |
Birmingham Royal Ballet |
Operation Mincemeat |
Birmingham HippodromePW Productions |
Pigfoot |
Birmingham Rep |
Playful Productions |
Curve, Leicester |
Rambert |
Disney Lion King |
Regional Young Theatre Directors Scheme |
Dorset Opera Festival |
Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester |
Edinburgh International Festival Society |
Royal Opera House |
Eleanor Lloyd Productions |
Royal Shakespeare Company |
Globe |
Royo |
Harbottle & Lewis |
Society of London Theatre |
High Tide |
Stage One |
Historic Royal Places |
The Bush |
Home, Manchester |
Three Choirs Festival Society |
HQ Theatres |
UK Theatre |
Kenny Wax Productions |
Welsh National Opera, Cardiff |
Kings Head |
Witness (London) Ltd |
London Classical Theatre |
Young Vic |
Manchester International Festival |
Z Arts |
Maydays |
and other well-known clients that can’t be named for confidentiality reasons.
Lucinda provides training sessions and one-to-one mentoring for independent producers and companies on theatrical contract and employment law, constructive criticism, communication and equality, diversity and inclusion initiative. She also offers mediation and management training.
In January 2018 Lucinda became a trustee of Bolton Octagon Theatre.
Lucinda's qualifications: