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Chrissy Jay Producer

Recipient of INDEPENDENT OPERA Producers Fellowship 2010-2012

Chrissy Jay is a freelance producer, arts administrator and events manager. She joined Independent Opera at Sadler’s Wells in 2007, where productions included The Sofa and The Departure, Maconchy, and Pelléas et Mélisande, Debussy, at the Lillian Baylis Theatre, Sadler’s Wells, and concerts at the Wigmore Hall. Chrissy took over as Administrator in 2009 and manages the on-going Artist Support programme of Fellowships, Scholarships, concerts and events.

Chrissy recently completed her MA in Creative Producing for Theatre and Live Performance at Birkbeck University, where she worked with the award winning new writing theatre company Paines Plough as trainee producer and line produced Wasted, a new play by performance poet Kate Tempest, a Paines Plough, Birmingham Repertory Theatre and Roundhouse production in association with NSDF and Latitude Festival. She has assisted on their productions The 8th, by Paul Heaton & Ché Walker, with Manchester International Festival and the upcoming Roundabout Season, a co-production with Sheffield Theatres.

As assistant producer, Chrissy’s credits include Theatre Uncut (Reclaim Ltd and Meeting Point Productions), eight short plays dramatising the recent cuts to public funding, where she assisted with the London production at Southwark Playhouse and the UK wide community participation events with over 80 groups producing their own shows.

Chrissy studied BA (hons) Jewellery Design and Silversmithing in Birmingham and has worked across both visual and performance arts. She worked with the City of London Festival on their programme of free outdoor events including jazz, world music, contemporary dance and street theatre, and their education programme of schools projects. Other projects have included a concert with the English Chamber Orchestra celebrating the opening of the V&A Jewellery Gallery and a concert at St James’s Church, Piccadilly with American a cappella group Penn Masala.

Chrissy has a particular interest in new writing, opera and contemporary dance, with a focus on supporting emerging artists. She is currently working with the Whitechapel Gallery on their annual fundraising gala Swarovski Whitechapel Gallery Art Plus Opera and continues her association with Independent Opera as Administrator.