Meet the team

Andy Cooper - Chair of Trustees

Andy is a magician, storyteller and theatrical prop maker, performing as Ashton Carter. Before following his passion for wonder working he spent 20 years working with technology in the City of London and an education charity. He is passionate about the transformative power of the performance arts for children. Andy is a member of the British Society of Mystery Entertainers and is the only ‘Wizard in Residence’ in the UK.

NishA Allen - Trustee

Nisha is our Parent Trustee and is a passionate supporter of YPPT, with a daughter who has attended five of our puppet camps. With a strong academic background in Statistics and Computing, Nisha also has experience in CRM within the Medical Devices sector. Nisha is an avid cooking enthusiast and exploring diverse cuisines. Her passion for cooking reflects her creativity and attention to detail, which she also uses to support YPPT’s mission and growth.

Beverley Koranteng-Aitkins - Trustee

Beverley is a corporate lawyer with over 12 years’ experience advising dynamic businesses in a variety of industries, including in Media, Leisure and Technology sectors. Beverley has a LLM in Intellectual Property Law and has been a visiting tutor at London and International universities. She is very passionate about the Arts, having previously supported a leading music therapy charity with pro bono work, and cares deeply about the impact creativity and innovation has on education and society as a whole.

James Marks - Trustee

James is a teacher who works in early years, KS1 and KS2. James also has a background in the arts having trained at East 15 Acting school and performed on the stage as well undertaking various roles backstage too. James is passionate about YPPT having worked alongside them for several years, assisting the team with productions in his schools. He is the YPPT's Designated Safeguarding Lead.

Rosemary Mathews - Trustee

Rosemary is an experienced and passionate people professional having worked in HR for the last 22 years after a successful career in the clothing industry. She is a fellow of the CIPD, has an MA in Employment Studies and has worked in both private and not for profit organisations covering a broad range of people related topics. A keen traveller, Rosemary loves to experience different cultures and has visited many countries.

Caroline Piggott - Trustee

Caroline worked in arts management in the UK for more than a decade, for touring theatre and dance companies, multi-arts festivals and local government. She spent nine years living, working, studying and volunteering in Russia, Switzerland, Austria and Japan. She joined the University of Hertfordshire in 2022 to work on its Study Abroad programme, and is currently the university’s Development Officer, with a focus on Individual Giving.

Jeremy Duschenes - executive director

Jeremy Duschenes is the founder and Executive Director of the YPPT. His experience of marionette productions extends back to the 1960s in his native Canada. Jeremy founded the YPPT as a means of bringing projects to more children than he would be able to work with on his own. Before founding the YPPT, he worked in opera, ticketing and high-quality furniture production.

Janet PUI-YEE Hyde - ADmINistrator

Janet works part time as the YPPT's Administrator. She has previously worked in administration across various businesses including Barnet College and the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England. Since 2007, she has been working for a furniture making company. She enjoys organising and is in charge of everything from screw eyes to puppet bodies!

Caitlin Duschenes - associate director

Caitlin Duschenes is the YPPT's Associate Director. She has been with the YPPT since 2014 and has led projects in London, Herts Cambridge and Ipswich. In 2018 she gained a Masters in Education with the Open University, specialising in Educational Leadership and Management.

Jacqui Golding - Project leader

Jacqui studied Drama and German many years ago, then spent some decades working for a trade exhibition organiser. Her love of theatre is not confined to watching productions – she is an active member of the Company of Ten in St Albans, working onstage as an actor and offstage as Stage Manager, backstage crew, Front-of-House Manager and Steward. She began volunteering for YPPT in 2020, as part of an intergenerational project – which was rudely interrupted by COVID-19! She began again in October 2021 as an apprentice, and now works as a Project Leader.

Louise Lahive - Project leader

Louise Lahive is a practising artist and experienced course leader based in North Hertfordshire, and has worked with the YPPT since 2017. She has recently developed and delivered short courses for the University of Hertfordshire, The Letchworth Heritage foundation and the Milton Keynes Art Centre. In 2013 Louise became a fellow with the Digswell Arts Trust and recent exhibitions include ‘Blood Landscape’ at Westminster Ref library, ‘Reflections’ at Surface gallery Nottingham and ‘looking Deeper’ at Courtyard Arts Hertford. She currently works out of ‘Eastcheap’ studios in Letchworth where she produces collaborative and large mixed media work.

Rebecca Timmis - Project leader

Rebecca is an actor trained in musical and classical theatre. Having read English Literature and French at the University of Southampton, Rebecca undertook her theatre training at The Old Vic, London and subsequently worked in UK tours, theatre in education, BBC radio, a musical premiere in Germany and stage shows and parades at Disneyland, Paris.
Rebecca loves creating of all kinds and annually sews large installations for the Greenbelt festival of artistry, activism and belief. Rebecca writes and directs plays performed by children, has written articles for magazines (and leaflets for the NHS!) and is creating a one woman performance piece.
Rebecca runs a food surplus cafe once a week. She loves any opportunity to run, explore cities, speak French and have fun with her favourite people. By the sea is her happiest place.

MARIA KUKHAREVA - Project leader

Maria is a consultant, creative facilitator and educator. She enjoy working across disciplines, combining her knowledge of child development, learning and teaching, creative practices and social science. In her earlier career as young people practitioner, Maria has designed and delivered bespoke residential events for young people, drawing from poetry, art, photography, theatre and movement. Maria has delivered a TEDx talk on resilience of children looked after and in alternative provision, which is based on her doctoral research. As a professional photographer, Maria has published and exhibited work on a range of social topics. She has also published and presented work on using images and museum objects to evoke reflection and creativity.

Rachel Barker - Project leader

Rachel has been involved in performing arts since a young age. Never truly comfortable in the spotlight, she found her true passion being behind the scenes helping to make it all happen. Since graduating in Arts Management, Rachel’s worked in theatre administration and general management, from theatre in education and fringe theatre to the West End and London producing houses. Since 2018 she has been working as a freelance project manager and administrator. In her spare time, she can be found at the Abbey Theatre in St Albans, where she is an active member of The Company of Ten.
www.rachelpbarker.co.uk

Holly Williams - Project leader

Kavita Kamboz - Project leader

Holly is a Teaching Assistant and YPPT Project Leader at Little Reddings Primary School. She has two children. She has always loved the arts and has a degree in Mixed media fine art. She adores sketching and painting, and creates watercolour greeting cards. She loves cats!

Kavita is a Project Leader as well as a teacher at Highwood Primary School. She has been working with YPPT since 2018 whilst teaching in the school. She has a BA Hons in Education in Context and has been a primary school teacher since 2012.