James is an independent commercial theatre producer and general manager. In those capacities he has worked on almost 100 shows since establishing his business in 2001, with an emphasis on touring shows around the UK and internationally, as well as productions in various venues both on and off West End in London.
He has been general managing all of David Benson’s solo shows since 2003, and founded Potted Productions in 2006 to produce family shows created by CBBC’s Dan and Jeff, Potted Potter and Potted Pirates. Other highlights include the UK stage premiere of The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho, and the comedy shows Pete and Dud: Come Again and Bill Hicks: Slight Return.
James has been profiled by both The Independent on Sunday and The Stage, and has twice been the recipient of the Stage One New Producer Bursary (2002 and 2004). He has been a guest speaker at both RADA and City Lit, and is under commission to Nick Hern Books to write So You Want To Be A Theatre Producer, which is scheduled for publication in early 2010.
He takes a number of productions to the Edinburgh festival each year under the Festival Highlights banner, and was named in 2008’s Stage 100 list of leading figures involved with the Edinburgh fringe. His shows there have won a wide range of awards, including Ed Hamell’s Herald Angel award in 2007, and the Scotsman Fringe Firsts for What I Heard About Iraq in 2006 and Gone in 2004 (both directed by Hannah Eidinow).
In 2008, new tours included The Quiz by Richard Crane, performed by David Bradley (Whatsonstage.com Awards - Best Solo Show nominee), The Last South by G.M. Calhoun, The Lady Of Burma by Richard Shannon performed by Liana Gould, My Grandfather's Great War adapted by David Benson and performed by Cameron Stewart (The Stage Awards - Best Solo Show nominee), Elizabeth & Raleigh: Late But Live by Stewart Lee, David Benson Sings Noël Coward, and X-Files Improv with Dean Haglund.
London productions in 2009 include Ordinary Dreams, or How To Survive A Meltdown With Flair by Marcus Markou at Trafalgar Studios, general management of Showstopper! The Improvised Musical at the Kings Head and Leicester Square theatres, and general management on the London transfer of the Edinburgh 2007 hit Jihad! The Musical.
New touring shows for 2009 include Jan Ravens’ debut solo show A Funny Look At Impressions, a stage version of Carol Ann Duffy’s poetry collection The World’s Wife starring Linda Marlowe, and the tenth solo show from David Benson, Doctor who? In Search Of Samuel Johnson.
Kat Portman
Kat Portman has been working with James since 2005 as Associate Producer. This year Kat is leading on the genera management of Ordinary Dreams as well as the new comedy strand of the Festival HIghlights programme at the Edinburgh fringe. She is also a trustee of The Lost Theatre.
Associate Producer Kat Portman
Press Representative Kate Gambrell
Production Assistants Carla Morris, Jacob Wagen
Interns Anne Roberts, Tom Atkins
