About Us

Founded in 2018, Wells Theatre Festival was established to increase access to high-quality, professional theatre in Wells and the surrounding area, with a particular focus on children, young people, and communities who face barriers to cultural participation. While Wells is often perceived as affluent, parts of the city and neighbouring areas experience deprivation, and our work is shaped by a commitment to inclusion and equity. We work in partnership with local schools to remove practical obstacles to engagement, including subsidised places and support with transport, ensuring more young people can experience live performance.

Participation sits at the heart of our work. We provide opportunities for people to engage in performance, technical theatre, and design, working alongside professional artists to develop skills, confidence, and pathways into the creative industries. Alongside this, we present a diverse, affordable programme that reaches across the community, from contemporary theatre and family work to performances in public spaces, care homes, and non-traditional venues.

Ros Johnson: Artistic Director

Ros was a co-founder of Wells Theatre Festival in 2018. She is also a co-founder of Naxos Creative. She trained at the Central School of Speech and Drama as a teacher and voice coach. She is a counsellor and trained life coach.

She worked as assistant director at the Crucible Sheffield with the late great Clare Venables and then at the RSC working with the celebrated voice coach, Cicely Berry. After the RSC, she went to the National Theatre as Assistant Director to Sir Richard Eyre and was involved in a number of West End transfers.

Since then, Ros has worked with: Dame Judy Dench, Madonna, Dame Maggie Smith, Ewan McGregor and Benedict Cumberbatch. She worked with Clarke Peters on the original production of Five Guys Named Moe and with American comedian Joan Rivers on her UK tour, “Broke and Alone”. Ros has also worked with the British Council, providing coaching for staff members based in Kuala Lumper, Malaysia and has trained drama teachers in China. Helping to run reading and writing retreats, acting & voice courses for Naxos Creative is the next step in a varied and rewarding career!

Neil Johnson: Producer and Associate Director

Neil worked as an actor and producer for over 30 years in theatre and television, following three years’ training at the Guildford School of Acting. He founded the Greenwich Studio Theatre, which he ran for ten years, and performed widely in theatre and television during this period. Alongside his professional practice, he developed a long-standing career in teaching and leadership in the performing arts and, until recently, was Head of the Performing Arts Department at one of Britain’s leading specialist music schools.

He now runs retreats in Greece and leads drama workshops in China each summer. Neil is the other co-founder of Naxos Creative.

Neil later worked as a full-time project manager for the BBC and the Tate Gallery, delivering educational and creative projects for young people across the UK. He produced and directed the prestigious IET Faraday Science Lectures for a number of years and was actively involved in all aspects of the project, including shaping the presentations and training the presenters.

He has worked as a presentation consultant with senior leaders across a range of major organisations, as well as supporting individuals from many professions to prepare presentations for TV appearances, media events, conferences, and interviews.

Neil holds a Professional Diploma in Management and a Master’s Degree in Business Administration (MBA).

Andrew Hunt: Costume Designer

Andrew studied design at Mountview Theatre School, and worked for many years in wardrobe at the RSC in Stratford-upon-Avon.

He designed various shows at the Chelsea Centre Theatre, Greenwich Studio Theatre, Finborough Theatre, Riverside studios and the Arts Theatre in the West End before embarking on a career in costume in film.

Some of the films he has worked on include: Citadel, The Alienist, 47 Ronin, Pirates of the Caribbean 4, The Boat that Rocked, Sylvia, The Gathering Storm, Anna and the King, Ever After, Great Expectations, As You Like It, Shakespeare in Love, Saving Private Ryan, Gosford Park, Chocolat, Hamlet, Atonement, Wit, Finding Neverland, De-Lovely, Kingdom of Heaven, Valkyrie, the Harry Potter series, In the Heart of the Sea, The Mummy, The Huntsman: Winter War and Fast and Furious 6, 7, 9 and 10…