Creatives Unlocked – Paula Birtwhistle

About me:

A Production manager with over 27 years technical experience in sound and lighting for events in Australia and across the UK, I’ve lived in Weston for the past 12 years with my husband Simon, children Eliza, Heidi and Arthur and Paddy Paws the cat.

My key work includes Sydney and Athens Olympics, lighting designer at Boomtown Paradise Heights and tech production at the Sisterhood Glastonbury.  Closer to home, I’ve production and stage managed a range of events in Weston including Pages of the Sea, Weekend of Wonders and Whirligig Festivals.

Sssshhh! Weston secrets

The secret of Weston is Weston! It almost sounds like a joke seaside town but it’s completely brilliant. Huge beach and sky, woods, rocks hills, all within a walk from my house. Also, I’m whispering now, ‘you can swim in the sea! Yes really, the sea comes in, once everyday if you time it right!’

Weston Wonders

My top five best places are Jaan Indian restaurant for the food, Loves café for the vibes food and dancing, Artspace for the community and art, Proud bar for the acceptance and dancing and the Black Cat micropub for beer and cosiness.

Weston Inspiration

Working with Theatre Orchard and Culture Weston, bringing inspiring artists and incredible performers to our wonderful town of Weston feels like the perfect way to have come full circle and finally be able to do the work I love in the place I love.

Weston Wishes

I want Weston-super-Mare to embrace the future by being bold with its social and art ideas. Particularly as we find our way out of the pandemic, let’s try radical ways to emerge out of this – community spaces, green initiatives and plenty of large scale arts.

Weston Walk the Walk

I think I’d like to take a promenade walk with Banksy and ask him about his thought and history of Weston, as Dismaland was the most extraordinary concept I’ve ever experienced.