NOFIT STATE - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Director & Joint CEO
- Member of British Council 's Arts
Abdul Shayek is the Artistic Director & Joint CEO of Tara Arts. Abdul was previously founding Artistic Director & CEO of Fio, Abdul is also an opera director with WNO and has worked with ENO.
He is a former Creative Associate of National Theatre Wales where he oversaw the companies research and development strand and delivered the 'Assembly' programme (a series of performance debate events) across Wales and beyond.
Abdul is a member of British Council's Arts and Creative Economy a steering group, a Clore Cultural Leadership Fellow (2013-14), vice-chair of the National Alliance for Arts in the Criminal Justice System, as well as being a trustee of mid-Wales dance company Impelo.
Adrian made Cardiff his home in 1980 when he arrived as a student. He joined the Juggling Club at the Joint Students Union, Cardiff in around 1985; becoming a member of Balls Up Jugglers and forming enduring friendships with the founders of NoFit State.
He has fond memories of witnessing the company develop and has enjoyed all their shows over the intervening years, including Splott State Circus, and the Welsh National Opera production of Splott Cinderella, in which he appeared.
After an academic career as Professor of Microbiology and Dean of Health Sciences at Cardiff Metropolitan University, Adrian retired in 2017. He joined the Board of NoFit State as a Trustee in 2020 and is also a Trustee at Llamau - one of NoFit State's community partners. Having a role to play in ensuring NoFit State continues to deliver world class circus isn't quite the same as running away with the circus but a very satisfying alternative.
Job Titles:
- Cofounder & Former Creative Director
Job Titles:
- Marketing & Communications Manager
- Marketing and Communications
Job Titles:
- Assistant Producer
- Stage Manager
Job Titles:
- Sound Engineer in Lexicon
Dylan was born in Bangor, North Wales, and trained at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama. He spent three years in the West End's ‘Les Miserables', and has also worked on radio, tv, and film with over thirty international credits including projects in Italy, Denmark, Iceland, Patagonia and India. Dylan has just spent his second year as a singer at the ‘Thursford Christmas Spectacular'. He has previously worked with ‘No Fit State' on the community project ‘Mae Yna Le' in ‘Pontio Arts Centre' in north wales, and is delighted to now join the ‘Lexicon' company.
Laine came from the contemporary dance world. She gained a scholarship to study her BPA at the Northern School of Contemporary Dance in Leeds in 1996. In her third year of training she toured with Verve Contemporary Dance Company, performing in theatres around the UK. After graduating she travelled down under to work with Sydney Dance Company Studios, performing on the streets, in parks and entertainment venues including The Star Sydney and Sydney Opera House.
Laine has a passion for movement and music and has taught and created dance for over 14 years. She has worked extensively within the community dance sector, performing in schools, care homes and mental health drop-in centres.
In 2015 she took a Flying Trapeze class at NoFit State and was totally hooked. She squished in as much training as possible and circus became her life as she fell in love with the magic that it brings to people.
Job Titles:
- Development Manager
- Head of Development
Elena is NoFit State's Head of Development, based in Cardiff. She has worked in senior roles in the Welsh arts sector for the last 15 years. Previously, she was Head of Programmes at Literature Wales and has worked for Wales at the Venice Biennale of Art, Wales Arts International, g39 Gallery and Chapter Arts Centre. A passionate advocate for the power of art to change lives and international working in the arts, Elena came to the UK from Germany in 2004 as part of her MA in British Studies at Humboldt University, Berlin. She is a member of the British Council's UK Arts and Creative Economy Advisory Group.
Elena first encountered NoFit State's show Block in 2018 and was simply mesmerized. Her son then went on to join the youth circus programme and she finally managed to run off with the circus in April 2022. She is loving the team spirit and togetherness of the circus world.
Job Titles:
- Community Programme Administrator
Jo has been part of the NoFit State family for years and she is now our exceptional Head of Reception.
Having always believed that Mums make the best jugglers, Jo quickly realised that Receptionists were even better when she joined the team in 2015. Since then she has been practising the art of Hat Juggling between Reception, Finance Assistant, Safeguarding Officer and Circus Mum, and is now a master of the art!
Job Titles:
- Community Project Manager
Job Titles:
- Programme Administrator / Trainer
Job Titles:
- Community Programme Manager
Kim first met NoFit State Circus founders at the National Circus Convention in Hay on Wye in spring 1987 and by spring 1988 had moved to Cardiff. Friends and contemporaries in the journey of Circus, Street Theatre and Outdoor Arts since then, Kim's life and career has run parallel, sometimes going off in tangent, sometimes entwining.
Kim has worked in many areas of the arts. Performing, producing, directing, creative education, public art commissioning, engagement, strategic development, event management, company management, landscape based projects - all sorts! She was even the Producer for the first ImMortal, the community version, first show in the silver tent in 2003.
She is very happy to bring her skills and experience to the Board, as well as her long term love and respect for the company, to support NoFIt State as it moves forward in this ever changing and increasingly bonkers world.
Laura first joined NoFit State community aerial classes in 2015. Prior to discovering circus she was a trampoline gymnast and had always loved being upside down. Her main disciplines are aerial hoop, rope and handstands. She began teaching on the Youth Circus Jedi Aerial programme in September 2019 and also has a certificate in Advanced Stretching Technique. She also holds a degree in Psychology and a PhD in Neuroscience.
Lee has practised as a solicitor for over 25 years and is a partner in a national law firm specialising in Intellectual Property and Litigation. In his spare time Lee enjoys brewing (and drinking) craft beer, socialising and the occasional triathlon.
Job Titles:
- Head Rigger & Performer
- Head Rigger & Performer Performers
Lee started his physical training in parkour and initially joined NoFit State in 2009 on Parklife. One mathematics degree later he had trained in juggling, wall trampoline and tumbling. Lee then went on to spend one year as a trainee performer for NoFit State and went on to perform on a number of shows throughout the company.
Lee is now Head Rigger for the SABOTAGE tour.
Job Titles:
- Company Stage Manager for Bianco & Lexicon
Having been in the industry for too many years to count I think it's fair to say that when it comes to issues facing growing businesses I've been there done that and bought the t-shirt!
My career has been an interesting one and as well as my current role at Grant Thornton I have worked at Deloitte, Haskins and Sells, later to become PwC. I have dealt with Tax Investigations as an ex Inspector of Taxes and I have provided a wealth of commercial tax and expansion advice to both growing businesses and stakeholders.
This professional experience along with my personal connection with the company as a youth circus parent means I am able to bring a fresh perspective as a trustee to help drive NoFit State's talent management.
Manjula is a freelance business psychologist and executive/career coach. She attended school and university in Cardiff and trained in Human Resources.
Her first brush with NoFit State was memorably back in 2005 at their performance in the Oval Basin in Cardiff Bay. She was wowed then and continues to seek to involve herself and support an organisation that contributes in such a unique way to both the world of art and the local community.
Paul returned to the board of NoFit State in 2022. During his previous tenure from 2006 to 2017, he held various roles including Chair and Treasurer during the period of the company's rapid growth, global touring, and (double) relocation. In recognition of his contributions, Paul and NoFit State received the Arts & Business UK Volunteer of the Year and Arts & Business Cymru Individual of the Year awards in 2008.
Paul currently works as an Audit Director at Legal & General in Cardiff and London, and holds a fellowship with the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales. He also serves on the Audit Committee of Corpus Christi College, Oxford University.
In addition to his office-based career, Paul has worked as a bungee jump instructor and performer and as a kids circus instructor. He claims to be able to juggle and unicycle, although this has not been publicly confirmed.
Job Titles:
- Trainer / Performer
- Trainer / Performer Trustees
I was involved in the formative years of NoFit State Circus as a founder-member of the university juggling club that provided fertile ground from which Balls Up, Risky in Pink, and NoFit eventually emerged.
From Cardiff originally, Sara first experienced NoFit State in her early 20s when she took mixed aerial classes (she even once ended up on the front cover of our Newsletter!). She joined NoFit State as a Trustee in 2022.
Professionally, Sara is a collections care specialist who works with the local museums, archive, and library sectors in Wales, to build resilience, ensuring organisations remain relevant, dynamic, are sustainable, thrive and deliver on their primary purpose of caring for and making accessible the cultural heritage of Wales.
In her spare time Sara enjoys eating out, walking, going to festivals and the occasional wild swim.
Tom made a home in Cardiff in 2010 after completing their degree in Law with Accounting (LLB). Shortly after they took on a Trainee Accountant role with the Local Authority. They are currently a qualified member of the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA) working as a Group Accountant in Education and Schools.
To get away from all the numbers Tom enjoys training at NoFit State on the aerial hoop and loves to perform at Community Events and Christmas Cabarets. They are also Co-chair and Trans Champion within the Local Authority's LGBTQ+ employee network providing safe spaces and support to minorities and ensuring visibility of non-binary individuals across the authority and beyond. Tom's claim to fame is interviewing Russell T Davies and Asifa LaHore at network events.
When not at work or circus classes Tom enjoys relaxing at home playing board games with friends, watching movies, sewing, cooking or attempting to garden. You'll always find Tom trying to convincing friends and family to attend musicals, circus shows or foodie haunts with them.
As well as producing large-scale shows (Bianco, Labyrinth, ImMortal and tabú), Tom oversees the overall artistic vision of NoFit State, including the company's community and engagement programmes.
Back in the day, Tom was a juggler and street performer as well as performing in the old blue tent and the original NoFit State shows. Over the last 30 years he has seen, and been part of, the company growing from two people working out of a back bedroom in Cardiff to the internationally renowned organisation it is today.
As well as producing BIANCO, Labyrinth, ImMortal and tabú, Tom plays an active part in the design team - helping to develop the systems and aesthetic for the company's touring productions.
Tom enjoys creating new work that challenges what circus is, developing the art form and the NoFit State signature style.... and taking it to far flung places and amazing audiences around the world.
Job Titles:
- Finance Manager
- Finance Officer
Wendy is our Finance Officer. She keeps the NoFit State boat afloat and makes everyone happy on payday.
Wendy joined the company in 2008 and manages to juggle her growing family with the company's ever growing financial complexity and the demands of keeping a tribe of circus performers in check.
Wendy was born in Sarawak, Malaysia, and moved to the UK in 2000 to study ACCA accountancy. She became a fully-qualified accountant in 2005 and before joining NoFit State she worked for Snap Cymru.
In her spare time, Wendy enjoys cooking and simply relaxing with her three beautiful children in Trefforest after a hard day's work in the NoFit office.