MEET THE TEAM

Melissa Matthews

Chair

​

Rebecca Simons

Vice Chair

Becca was an acting member of Starmaker from 1990 to 1997 and played a variety of animals in musicals. At college she progressed to more serious drama and achieved distinction for the LAMDA Gold Medal for Acting. Becca discovered a passion for lighting at university and spent a year working in all aspects of backstage for the Northcott Theatre, Exeter. This led to a training course in lighting design in Australia and a season working at the Sydney Opera House. In 2014 Becca became a member of the Artist Development Team supporting the committee and accepted the role of Vice Chair in 2018. 

Dee Booth

Co-Marketing Manager

​

Lisa Wrake

Co-Marketing Manager

​

Carol Hodkinson

Head of Summer School

​Carol has been the hidden strength at Starmaker for almost three decades running the annual Summer School each year. She does a brilliant job providing a full week of performance training for over 100 children followed by a gala performance for their friends and family. 

Vicki Widdis

Operations Manager

Vicki is a busy mum of four boys (one of whom is a Starmaker member) and spends her time juggling home, work and volunteering with various charities including Starmaker where she is happy to be taking on the role of Operations Manager. Vicki is finance director in her e-commerce company TAOS Gifts that she has run with her husband Rob since 2010, starting her entrepreneur journey as a sole trader in 2001. She enjoys a challenge and has a great love of anything technical and Excel, most of all she loves to learn new things. 

Lucy Hutson

Co-Welfare Officer

​

Monique Maree

Co-Welfare Officer (Acting)

​

Rhi O'Keefe

Producer and Events Co-ordinator

Rhi started as an Apprentice Director and Apprentice Musical Director for Joseph and then moved on to Assistant Director for Legally Blonde, she is now working as a Producer for Starmaker shows as well as being our sevents co-ordinator. In the future Rhi would like to run a theatre company for children and young adults with learning difficulties and disabilities, her goal is to make sure that they don't feel any different and are given the same opportunities as other performers.

Carolyn Weller

Membership Secretary

​

Lynne Newell

Finance Director

​

Susan Costello

Production Co-Ordinator

​

Kate Winslet

Patron

Kate spent many years at Starmaker taking part in some wonderful productions. Starmaker helped her dreams become a reality. Our organisation has a special place in her heart and she continues to support us through her success and even the occasional surprise visit.