Alison Preston (Chair)

2025-03-31T15:30:45+00:00

Alison is Head of Research, BBC performance at Ofcom, the UK’s media regulator. She oversees the range of research that Ofcom carries out to assess the BBC’s performance. She was previously head of media literacy research at Ofcom, with responsibility for various datasets about the media habits and opinions of children aged 3–15 and their parents, and adults aged 16+. Licketyspit’s focus on face to face engagement and interaction is a useful complement to the mediated communications that are increasingly the norm for both adults and children. Alison’s favourite childhood games were: endless games of Monopoly with her older sister, gradually working out the best strategies and which properties to go for – Whitechapel and the Old Kent Road were often surprisingly useful!; obstacle courses around the garden when visiting cousins; an ongoing make-believe acting-out story with friends and sister revolving around the antics of a young child and her harassed parents – not a whole lot happened but that was part of its fun!

Alison Preston (Chair)2025-03-31T15:30:45+00:00

Virginia Radcliffe

2025-03-19T09:57:41+00:00

Virginia is a theatre director and children’s playwright who began to specialise in early years theatre in the mid-90s, after an extensive career as an actor. She founded Licketyspit in 2004, after leading the pioneering Wee Stories Early Years Project. Her very popular children’s plays put early years children at the centre of large, inclusive audiences of 0-12 year-olds and adults. In 2008 Virginia developed her immersive theatre piece LicketyLeap, through play and consultation with early years children. This led to the Storyplay Approach, which is the cornerstone of all of Licketyspit's work. Virginia is a passionate advocate for the transformative power of theatre and performance to open up imaginary playworlds for children, families and early years professionals. Her work aims to empower children and nurture a more equal and flourishing society.

Virginia Radcliffe2025-03-19T09:57:41+00:00

Virginia

2025-03-19T10:24:04+00:00

I trained as an actor in London where I grew up and I started working with early years children when I had my own children – Ruby & Iona. Having children reminded me how much I love to play, sing, dance, dress-up, read, explore and make up and act out stories! My Mum Bridget, was a teacher who sang and played the piano and my Dad, John, taught me lots of songs to play on the guitar! I grew up with lots of stories, rhymes and songs and grown-ups who read and played with me and my brother and sister. But I have learned how to do my job running Licketyspit by playing and talking with children, mostly in Scotland, where my Mum came from and where I live now with my own family.  

Virginia2025-03-19T10:24:04+00:00

Boatemaa Ofori-Frimpong

2025-03-31T15:37:21+00:00

"I feel free. With the dressing up, you can’t do that all the time but I feel I can be myself!" Boatemaa first joined the Lickety family as a participant at Big Porridge & Play Maryhill in 2018. In 2019 she became a Storyplay Champion Volunteer together with her older child, and during the pandemic her family helped us develop Storyplay online and welcome families to our first ever sessions on Zoom. In 2021 Boatemaa joined our board and she continues to be a very important part of Licketyspit!

Boatemaa Ofori-Frimpong2025-03-31T15:37:21+00:00

Johnny Austin

2025-03-19T09:05:15+00:00

Johnny is an actor, writer and director who has worked extensively in theatre, radio, film and television for over 15 years. Johnny was awarded the New Playwrights 2011 Award by the Playwrights' Studio Scotland, and the 2011 Eileen Gallagher and Ann McManus Scholarship by Shed Productions. In 2012 he completed a Masters Degree (With Distinction) in TV Fiction Writing at Glasgow Caledonian University. Johnny has always been particularly keen on work for a children's audience, and has performed in various Licketyspit productions, as well as directing the 2012 Christmas Quangle Wangle. He has also directed children's theatre for Scottish Youth Theatre and played the role of Scientist General Linus Curie in Series 7 of the children's television series MI High on CBBC. Johnny is an Associate Artist of Licketyspit and currently works with us as an Executive Producer and General Manager.

Johnny Austin2025-03-19T09:05:15+00:00

Fraser Macleod – Facilitator & Project Manager

2020-02-18T09:39:40+00:00

Fraser Macleod is freelance director/facilitator and senior project manager. Fraser first worked for Licketyspit when he played Big Tony in the first production of Magic Spaghetti in 2005. He has been pivotal to the company's development as a key associate artist, ever since, most recently as Lead Actor-pedagogue/project manager over the first two years of BIG Porridge & Play Glasgow in 2017/2018. You can find out more about Fraser’s work at www.frasermacleod.com.

Fraser Macleod – Facilitator & Project Manager2020-02-18T09:39:40+00:00

Tim Brinkhurst – Composer & Musician

2020-02-14T15:40:09+00:00

Tim is an artist, songwriter, producer and composer. He has written and produced music for all of Licketyspit's shows, as well as working with Virginia on the Wee Stories Early Years project. He composed the music for Hare & Tortoise, Molly Whuppie, Wee Witches, Quangle Wangle, Heelie-go-Leerie and Green Whale. Tim's most recent contribution to the world of sound has been to write and perform the narrative for Channel 4’s FourToTheFloor multimedia shows in 2019. He has also provided composition and sound design on around twenty theatrical productions.

Tim Brinkhurst – Composer & Musician2020-02-14T15:40:09+00:00

Catherine Lindow – Artist & Illustrator

2025-03-31T15:40:33+00:00

Catherine Lindow is an artist and illustrator whose favourite subjects include rooftops, drainpipes, dogwalkers and bits of unexpected sprouting greenery! She also works part time for Edinburgh Libraries. Catherine set up Licketyspit with Virginia in 2004 and designed the original sets for Molly Whuppie, Wee Witches, Quangle Wangle and Hare & Tortoise. She also designed the posters for all of our shows and illustrated the Molly Whuppie and Wee Witches books. In 2021 she led online making workshops as part of our project Family Art Voyage. You can find more of her work at www.catherinelindow.co.uk or on Instagram @catherixx.

Catherine Lindow – Artist & Illustrator2025-03-31T15:40:33+00:00

Amy Geddes – Fiddler/Composer

2020-02-14T14:55:39+00:00

Amy Geddes is a fiddler, fiddle teacher, singer and composer from Galloway. Amy performed live in the 2012 run and 2016 Edinburgh Fringe run and tour of Molly Whuppie. She also devised and ran "Come & Try Fiddle" workshops alongside the show! Amy is a founding member of the Pathhead Music Collective and was nominated for Tutor of the Year at the 2015 Trad awards. She has also played in bands including Tannas, Maysha, Amy Geddes Trio and Redwood Mountain. Her other theatre work includes work for Dogstar Theatre, East Kilbride Village Theatre. She was also the Musical Director of Slanjayvah Danza's 2018/19 sell out Edinburgh Fridge & touring production.

Amy Geddes – Fiddler/Composer2020-02-14T14:55:39+00:00

Gavin Marwick – Fiddler & Composer

2020-02-14T15:30:26+00:00

Gavin Marwick is a fiddle player and composer who first caught the public eye through his work with Iron Horse in the 1990s. Gavin developed the live score of Molly Whuppie and has performed in it live on a number of occasions. Other theatre work includes work for the Traverse, Dogstar,  and Dundee Rep. Gavin is a freelance musician with a strong Scottish background with a broad interest in inspiration from other sources. He has thirty years experience working in musical performance: concerts, festivals, ceilidhs, theatre, recording, touring, radio/media, tutoring. Current bands include Bellevue Rendezvous, Up In The Air and Ceilidh Minogue. He promotes his own projects and writing through his Journeyman label.  Gavin's website: www.gavinmarwick.co.uk

Gavin Marwick – Fiddler & Composer2020-02-14T15:30:26+00:00

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