Phoenix Productions CIC was established to fill a vital niche in the Shropshire arts scene. Founders Scott Sutherland and Richard Taylor recognised the need for a high-calibre production company specifically aimed at performers aged 21 and over in Shrewsbury and the surrounding areas.

As a Community Interest Company, our mission is to marry artistic excellence with social purpose, providing a professional-standard platform for the region’s most talented adult performers and volunteers.

Our Leadership

Company Directors

Scott Sutherland 

Picture Scott aged eight dressed as a clown in Panto, a theatre experience that triggered a lifelong passion for the Theatre Arts. A passion that continued through membership of Brierley Hill Amateur Operatic Society, Cradley Heath Amateur Operatic Society Youth, and Stourbridge Amateur Operatic Society. When faced with a location move, he continued to perform with TADLOP (Telford) and most recently in leading roles with Shrewsbury Amateur Operatic Society/SMTC for whom he was at the helm for over five years.

With all that experience behind him, years of lessons learned, his undoubted passion for performing, his background in logistics and management, and his understanding of leadership the time was right to go solo. This is a brand-new company. A company whose aims are grounded in artistic rigour and most importantly a supportive, and professional environment.

Richard Taylor

Richard brings a formidable 360-degree perspective to the company. 

Firstly Financial: Richard started his career at the Stock Exchange in The City of London at the heart of all things monetary, before leaving that pressure cooker environment to jump, more recently, to another, hospitality. Here Richard, supported by his wife Kate, has built a successful career as the owner and operator of multiple restaurants and complementary hospitality services. This wealth of business knowledge, financial acumen and operational expertise will ensure that Phoenix Productions is a sustainable and professionally managed organisation.

Secondly: An essential requirement for all at Phoenix, Richard too has a passion for Theatre. He particularly enjoys comedies and farces and is keen to enable New Writing. Like Scott, over the years, he has performed with a variety of Companies, as well as directing, you’ve guessed it, comedy!

Artistic Associate

As part of the remit of Phoenix, Scott would like to develop a service for local Charities. We all know how difficult it is for charities these days and public donations are increasingly important. Phoenix aims to have a roll out entertainment arm of community driven entertainment that can be booked by charities to help raise those important funds. To enable this Scott reached out to an experienced Shropshire Concert Organiser.

Laura Rebecca Davies 

The epitome of an excited theatre kid Laura grew up into an excited theatre adult. Her involvement in the Shropshire Theatre Scene for over 30 years and her more recent experience as a professional Concert singer made her a natural choice to support Phoenix in general, and particularly this Charity venture. 

Though the day job sees Laura as Managing Director of local recruitment business Marshall Harmony and as an active member of the Shropshire Chamber of Commerce, it is the buzz of theatre that has been her constant love.

After her professional training, at East 15 Acting School, Laura continued honing her skills with Estill voice training, qualifying as a registered LCM Musical Theatre teacher and gaining an LLCM in Musical Theatre. She has performed with theatre companies across the county and beyond, organised charity concerts, and most recently has started her Directoral journey.

Laura is thrilled to be supporting Scott and helping bring his vision for Phoenix to life through exciting, community driven productions that showcase the very best talent Shropshire has to offer on stage.