Open Sky creates new digital theatre, physical theatre and film for audiences around the world. We work from our base underneath rural Herefordshire’s wide open skies.

We tour work digitally, locally, nationally and internationally with a strong commitment to representing and reaching audiences traditionally excluded from the cultural narrative. We love to collaborate with local, national and international artists. We originate our shows both independently and in collaboration with a wide range of partners and third-party commissioners. We are constantly testing the limits of what it is possible to create by combining live performance with new technologies and new routes to audiences. We share our passion for making art with our local and national community via teaching, mentoring and regular community-led productions. We’re an Arts Council England National Portfolio Organisation, which means funding thanks to taxpayers plays a huge part in supporting our work. This responsibility informs our work ethic and strong commitment to excellence. Our work is for everyone so we are determinedly and actively anti-oppression and pro-inclusivity.

Alongside our NPO activity we also operate Open Sky Productions, a commercial, full-service film production company, the income from which supports our artistic endeavours.

We believe that art matters. Shared experience leads to empathy which in turn leads to compassion, both for ourselves, for each other and for the world that we share.

SHOWREEL

CLAIRE COACHÉ

ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
Claire is an actor, director, writer and producer who, alongside her co-founder Lisle Turner, leads the creation of all Open Sky work, both live and digital, theatre and film.
Before beginning her career as an artist Claire worked for some of London’s biggest arts and entertainment companies including Hardsell, McCabes and ATG launching and promoting shows like Mamma Mia! West Side Story and Disney’s Beauty and the Beast!
Claire then trained as an actor and director at the prestigious École Internationale de Théâtre Jacques Lecoq in Paris. After graduation Claire co-founded female clown ensemble Jammy Voo before going on to become Co-Artistic Director at the award-winning Redcape Theatre 2006-2012. Since becoming Artistic Director at Open Sky Claire has created and produced 11 plays to critical acclaim and transitioned the company into digital-theatre work during Covid.
LISLE TURNER

CREATIVE DIRECTOR
Lisle is a writer, director and producer who, alongside his co-founder Claire Coaché, leads the creation of all Open Sky work, both live and digital, theatre and film.
Lisle started his career in cinema exhibition at the Prince Charles Cinema in London and went on to run live production agency Flux. Between 2005-2007 he worked at Amnesty International where he created over 50 short films, ads and documentaries for the charity.
In 2008 Lisle founded Wrapt Films and led that company as Creative Director until 2020. He then became Creative Director at Open Sky Productions in 2021. Lisle has written, directed and produced feature films and prime time TV alongisde many short films and commercials. In theatre he has written all Open Sky live shows. During Open Sky’s transition to digital theatre work Lisle was able to bring his decades of filming experience to the process.

ADVISORY BOARD

The Open Sky Advisory Board is made up of talented volunteers who give their time for free. They oversee and monitor our performance against the funding criteria agreed by Arts Council England to ensure a strong return on public investment. The board meets quarterly and the minutes of those meetings are made public and can be seen here.

Ian Archer

ADVISORY BOARD MEMBER
CEO and Artistic Director of Courtyard Hereford, the city’s largest arts centre. Previously CEO at Hull Truck Theatre.
Abi Beavan

YOUTH ADVISORY BOARD MEMBER
Abi grew up in Herefordshire and studied Performing Arts at Hereford College of Arts. She is an undergraduate in Performing Arts at University of Central Lancashire and a neurodiversity advocate. Abi is Open Sky's Youth Board Member.
Alison King

CHAIR
CEO of Turtle Key Arts, Chair of the NCCA and producer of NPO Ockham’s Razor. Based at Lyric Hammersmith, London.
Raphael Martin

ADVISORY BOARD MEMBER
Literary manager extraordinaire, Raph is the founder and owner of The Lit Shop. Originally from New York, based in London.
Harry O'Connor

ADVISORY BOARD MEMBER
Harry is a digital entrepeneur, owns and operates two digital agencies and is a professional mentor. Based in Portugal.
Temi Odurinde

ADVISORY BOARD MEMBER
Temi is a sustainability consultant, runs Hive Sustainability and is co-founder of Hope Spring Water. Based in Herefordshire.
Sam Obigbesan

ADVISORY BOARD MEMBER
Sam is a young emerging writer who was born in Athens, studied in the UK and now lives between Hereford, UK & Michigan, USA.
Clare Wichbold

ADVISORY BOARD MEMBER
Clare is a former archaeologist turned fundraiser. She has worked for National Lottery Charities Board, Herefordshire Council, Hereford Cathedral and Courtyard Hereford. Clare retired at Christmas 2023 and is busier than ever!

TURTLE KEY ARTS PRODUCES AND DEVISES ORIGINAL GROUND-BREAKING ART TO ENTERTAIN AND INSPIRE. WE BELIEVE THAT ACCESS TO THE ARTS HELPS TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE BY BRINGING PEOPLE TOGETHER, OFFERING CREATIVE OPPORTUNITIES, SOCIAL INTER-ACTION, CONFIDENCE AND SELF-ESTEEM.

Based at Lyric Hammersmith London, Turtle Key Arts act as executive producers for Open Sky providing strategic advice on finance, logistics, reporting and company development. Their CEO Alison King chairs the Open Sky advisory board and personally produces Open Sky’s live work for national and international touring. Open Sky and Turtle Key share a strong belief in making art that matters.