Porl Cooper

In varying capacities, Prol has worked for over 35 years in repertory and subsidised arts venues, commercial theatre and on large scale outdoor events and now work freelance across several organisations. 

Porl is currently engaged as Interim Senior Producer and Programmer with Your Trust in Rochdale (Touchstones, Heywood Civic, Middleton Arena), and is Programmer at EnableUS at the University of Sheffield's Performance Venues, with Programming and Talent Development responsibilities across both organisations.

He recently completed 8 years as Associate Producer at Harrogate Theatre and 2 years as Producer at The Dukes Lancaster, heading up the programme and talent development initiatives, Producer and Tour Booker/ Manager with Birmingham European (BE) Festival in Birmingham, Artistic Associate at CAST Doncaster and Freelance Producer with Lawrence Batley Theatre, Huddersfield. 

For 5 years he has worked with the team at Slung Low in Leeds to ensure that their base and venue – the HUB – became firmly established on regional, national & international touring routes. Before all that, and departing from his early 12 year career in Stage Management, he spent 10 years working in the technical & programming teams at The Lowry Salford Quays and established the Studio’s successful “Developed with The Lowry” strand and was instrumental in The Lowry Studio being awarded a Peter Brook / Mobius Empty Space Award in 2012 and in 2013 he was the proud recipient of the Manchester Theatre Awards’ Special Award. 

Porl is massively passionate about making theatre and live events accessible to all, and changing people's perceptions around what 'theatre-going' can look like in the 21st Century