It’s Not a Game is the result of a phenomenal team of creatives and collaborators who believe in live performance, human connection, and doing things properly.

Every moment on stage exists because of the people behind it.

Ryan Simons is a UK-based writer, director and theatre maker working across live performance and narrative-led stage productions. He trained in drama at Bretton Hall, graduating with First-Class honours, and began his career as an actor, appearing in a wide range of theatre productions and television dramas. His early work as a performer continues to inform his writing and directing, grounding spectacle in character, timing and emotional truth.

As a writer and director, Ryan creates story-driven live experiences that blend theatrical storytelling with cinematic influence, illusion and immersive design. His work includes productions such as Shock Horror: A Ghost Story and The Void, exploring genre-led narratives through the immediacy of live performance. With a focus on atmosphere, pacing and audience connection, his approach seeks to place story at the centre of the experience, using scale and spectacle in service of something human.

Alex Moran is a UK-based theatre producer and performer whose work spans narrative-led stage productions, immersive theatre and large-scale touring shows. He is a co-founder of Thunder Road Theatre and has built a reputation for developing bold, cinematic live experiences that combine storytelling, atmosphere and technical ambition. Alongside his producing work, Alex has performed extensively on stage, including appearances with the National Theatre in productions such as War Horse, bringing a performer’s insight to every project he leads.

As a producer, Alex specialises in guiding complex creative ideas from early development through to live performance, shaping both the artistic vision and the practical framework that allows a show to exist. On It’s Not a Game, he oversees the production’s creative and logistical spine, working closely with the team to refine structure, manage scale and support collaboration at every level. His approach is rooted in clarity, trust and a belief that the strongest live experiences are built where ambition and craft meet.

Ben Parsons is a composer and sound designer working across television, film and theatre, based in North Manchester. He has composed original music for a wide range of screen and live work, including series for major broadcasters such as BBC, Channel 4, Sky and Discovery, as well as scoring feature films and theatrical pieces. His musical work is informed by an expansive palette, blending cinematic textures with emotional subtlety to support narrative and atmosphere.

For It’s Not a Game, Ben has crafted an original score and sound world that underpins the show’s shifting tone, energy and dramatic rhythm. His work on this production draws on his experience balancing music with live performance, using sound to guide focus, shape tension and deepen audience connection. Whether through underscore, thematic material or atmospheric sound design, his compositions help bring emotional and narrative depth to the live experience.

Andrew Crofts is a visual designer and technologist working across theatre, dance and mixed-media performance. He is known for his lighting, video and interactive design and has collaborated with a wide range of companies including Blast Theory, Belarus Free Theatre, Streetwise Opera, Invisible Flock and Every House Has A Door. His work brings together light and technology in service of narrative and atmosphere, creating visual worlds that expand the possibilities of live performance.

For It’s Not a Game, Andrew shapes the show’s lighting and visual environment, using light to define space, mood and dramatic rhythm. His approach draws on a deep understanding of how light interacts with performance, set and audience perception, balancing technical complexity with artistic clarity. Across his collaborations and touring work, Andrew’s designs support storytelling that is both immersive and expressive, making the unseen feel alive in every moment on stage.

Will Hunter is a theatre and performance designer whose work encompasses set design, production craft and the physical realisation of performance environments. With experience working across UK theatre and creative production contexts, he brings a practical understanding of spatial storytelling and technical design to each project. His background includes hands-on stage management and set building, contributing to the realisation of creative visions in live performance settings.

As set designer on It’s Not a Game, Will shapes the physical world of the production, translating conceptual ideas into spatial form and movement. His work focuses on crafting environments that support narrative flow, audience immersion and dramatic impact, collaborating closely with the creative team to ensure that every element of the set enhances both story and performance.

Tom Elderfield is a British magician, creative consultant and performer working across live performance, television and bespoke illusion design. Based in Buckinghamshire and London, Tom has designed and performed original magic for stage, screen and corporate settings, and has contributed creative consultation to a wide range of television and live productions. His screen appearances include The Traitors UK on BBC One, and his television credits include work on Dirty Tricks and Dynamo: Live at the O2.

As a magic consultant, Tom has created and advised on illusion for numerous television productions, including consultation across several of Dynamo’s television shows, as well as work with other established performers. On It’s Not a Game, he brings a detailed understanding of illusion design, performance psychology and theatrical timing, contributing moments of wonder that support the show’s narrative, pacing and emotional impact. His work blends technical precision with subtlety, ensuring that each effect serves the story as much as the spectacle.

Neal Austin is a celebrated British magician and variety performer known for his original blend of comedy, visual magic and audience engagement. Represented internationally as one of the top variety magic acts, Neal has performed in theatres and events across the UK and beyond, building a reputation for a refreshingly individual style and genuinely surprising magical moments. His appearances on television include performances on shows such as Talking Telephone Numbers and Opportunity Knocks, and he has created bespoke magical material for a wide range of live and broadcast contexts. Neal was also the recipient of the Carlton Award for outstanding comedy in magic, recognising his unique contribution to the craft.

As Illusion Director on It’s Not a Game, Neal draws on his decades of experience as a performer and creator of visual magic to shape moments of wonder and dramatic impact within the production. His approach combines technical precision, comic timing and theatrical rhythm to ensure that each illusion serves the show’s narrative as much as its spectacle. Whether designing original effects or advising on performance dynamics, his work helps deepen audience engagement and lift the extraordinary into the realm of lived experience.

Fine Entertainments Ltd is a live entertainment design and production company specialising in bespoke illusion creation, theatrical engineering and technical fabrication for performance, television, events and online campaigns. The company’s work spans a wide range of broadcast and live projects, including illusion builds for television and digital content featuring well-known presenters such as Stephen Mulhern, Maya Jama and Jeremy Vine, as well as contributions to major entertainment formats including Britain’s Got Talent.

For It’s Not a Game, Fine Entertainments Ltd fulfils the role of Illusion Builder, realising the show’s bespoke illusion elements from concept through to live execution. Working closely with the creative team, the company brings a focus on precision, safety and storytelling, ensuring that each illusion supports the narrative, pacing and emotional impact of the production while maintaining a strong sense of theatrical wonder.

Luke Rowland is a UK-based creative assistant and performer with a background in musical theatre and live performance. His early experience includes appearances in productions such as Grease, Cinderella, Bugsy Malone and A Dracula Spectacular, followed by professional performance work in UK live entertainment venues. This foundation in performance informs his understanding of timing, staging and collaboration within large-scale live shows.

Luke works full time with Fine Entertainments Ltd, supporting the development and delivery of It’s Not a Game. In his role as Creative Assistant, he works closely with the creative and production team, contributing to idea development, rehearsal process, logistics and on-stage execution. His role bridges creative thinking and practical support, helping to ensure that ambitious ideas are carried through clearly from concept to performance.

Rebecca Pitt is a UK-based graphic designer and art director specialising in key art and poster design for theatre and live performance. She began her career as a designer at Dewynters before establishing her own practice, Rebecca Pitt Creative, in 2014. Her work focuses on creating bold, concept-led visuals that clearly communicate the tone, scale and identity of a production.

Her theatre credits include designing the original poster artwork for the musical SIX, helping to establish one of the most recognisable visual identities in contemporary theatre, alongside poster and key art design for a wide range of UK theatre productions and touring shows. For It’s Not a Game, Rebecca designed the show’s poster artwork, creating the striking image that introduces audiences to the world of the production and reflects its themes of control, play and reality.

Matt Crockett is a London-based freelance portrait and marketing photographer, art director and retoucher with more than sixteen years of experience capturing compelling visual stories across theatre, television, live performance and commercial work. His theatre photography has appeared in digital and print campaigns for major productions, and his work spans portraiture, editorial and theatrical imagery for both stages and performers. The breadth of his work also includes commissions for publications such as NME, Time Out London, British GQ and Radio Times.

For It’s Not a Game, Matt created the key poster photography that defines the show’s visual presentation, using light, composition and performance interplay to reflect the production’s themes and energy. His broader theatre and entertainment work includes long-standing roles as in-house photographer for Dewynters, the UK’s leading live entertainment marketers, where he has shot campaigns for West End and touring productions including Les Misérables, Hamilton, Wicked and The Lion King.

Jess Rooney is a marketing consultant working across brand strategy, digital marketing and audience engagement. With a background in commercial and creative marketing, she specialises in shaping clear messaging, building campaigns and connecting brands with their audiences through thoughtful, strategic communication. Her work spans digital platforms, content strategy and campaign planning, with a focus on clarity, consistency and impact.

For It’s Not a Game, Jess brings her wider marketing expertise into a live performance context, supporting the development and delivery of the show’s marketing strategy. Working closely with the creative and production team, she helps translate the tone, themes and identity of the production into its public-facing presence, ensuring that the way the show is presented to audiences is as intentional and considered as the work on stage.

Jamie Clark is a highly experienced tour booker, producer and theatre general manager working across UK live performance and touring theatre for over 25 years. Throughout his career he has built strong relationships with leading regional theatres and managements, negotiating tours from one-night events to full tours and helping bring productions to audiences nationwide. Following training in artist management and early work as an actor, Jamie served as Head of Touring for Bill Kenwright Ltd, creating tours for major productions including Blood Brothers, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and Hay Fever, among others.

For It’s Not a Game, Jamie oversees the booking of the tour, working with venues across the UK to build and secure the show’s live run. His past credits include UK touring theatre and live events such as The Mousetrap, Motown The Musical, Quiz, Shock Horror, Stranger Sings, You’re Bard! and Sun Records the Concert, as well as producing and general managing work on tours including Haunting Julia, Fings Ain’t Wot They Used to Be, September in the Rain and Dracula – One Man’s Search for the Truth. His role blends strategic planning and practical execution, ensuring that the ambition of the production is matched by a sustainable and impactful tour structure.

Fine Entertainments Ltd is a UK-based live entertainment company specialising in the creation, production and touring of large-scale magic, illusion and narrative-led live shows. Led by performers and creators Jay & Joss, the company develops original productions that combine theatrical storytelling, technical innovation and audience engagement, with work spanning theatres, touring venues, corporate events and broadcast performance.

As management for It’s Not a Game, Fine Entertainments Ltd oversees the strategic, creative and operational delivery of the production, while also acting as financial producer. The company supports the show from development through to touring, managing budgets, planning and long-term sustainability to ensure that creative ambition is matched by practical execution. At the heart of its approach is a commitment to collaboration, craft and creating live experiences that feel both spectacular and human.

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