Neil Sissons - Artistic Director

Neil was born in Sheffield and studied drama at Bretton Hall College and Leeds University. After a short period as assistant to the Drama Advisor for Sheffield and as an actor, he co-founded Compass in 1981 to produce The Collector on the Edinburgh Fringe. Neil has directed all the Company’s work to date, and under his guidance the company has grown from its tiny profit-share beginnings into one of the UK’s foremost touring theatre companies.

He has also written for the Company; his new plays include Damocles and The Last Executioner in collaboration with Paul Rider and Refugees, Moonstomp and A Higher Passion with Nick Chadwin. Neil and Nick have also translated Henrik Ibsen's A Doll's House and adapted The Wind in the Willows, A Christmas Carol and Jekyll & Hyde - all performed by Compass. In 2004 Neil translated Chekhov’s The Evils of Tobacco and The Proposal, which were both performed by Compass.

Outside the Company, for a number of years Neil was an associate director of Hull Truck Theatre Company. His work for them includes Toad Of Toad Hall, The Lion, the Witch and The Wardrobe and A Hard Day's Night, and West End productions of Bouncers and Teechers.

He has pursued a variety of further freelance writing and directing projects. He lives in Sheffield with his wife, Bea, and has a daughter, Kitty.

Craig Dronfield - General Manager

Craig joined Compass after working for Opera Circus, Actors Touring Company, Cross Border Arts, the Post Office and Enos Kaye Wholesale Fruitiers.

Richard Rawson is the Company’s Administrative Assistant.

Richard joined the company in March 2007. After obtaining an English Degree at Anglia Ruskins University, Cambridge campus, Richard pursed his passion to work in theatre.

Previously, Richard worked as a Production Assistant for Sheffield Theatres, providing administrative support for their in-house productions and with their visiting company programme.

Richard is looking forward to working as a member of an exciting touring theatre company, and working with the wide variety of venues Compass tours to around the country.

Dan Franklin - Production Team

Dan studied at Jesus College, Oxford and The Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama.

Dan has worked for Compass on eight shows; The Price, Hard Times (2006), Moby Dick, The Seagull, The Rivals, The Winter’s Tale, Waiting for Godot and Hard Times (2000).

Recent productions for other companies include Long Time Dead and After the End (Paines Plough) Bridgetower (English Touring Opera);PUSH! (Tête à Tête Opera); To Kill a Mockingbird (Mercury Theatre, Colchester); Bent, Peeling and George Dandin (Graeae Theatre Company); The Lion and The Jewel, Sense of Belonging and a Nigerian adaptation of Lorca’s Yerma (Collective Artists); Rome and Jewels (UK Arts International); Out of Our Heads (Actors' Touring Company); and several pantomimes (The Theatre, Chipping Norton).

Simon Spearing - Production Team