The next interview in our stagey chat series is with Liat Rosenthal. Liat is the Head of Creative Programming at Woolwich Works in London. Woolwich Works is fast becoming one of London's best new culture spots.

Hi Liat, how are you? Thank you so much for chatting to us today! Would you mind introducing yourself and telling our readers how you first got into the creative arts industry?

Hello! I'm a Creative Producer with a love for live events. This means I work with many different types of creatives, spanning different art forms, to create experiences that might range from workshops, performances, talks, large-scale festivals and exhibitions.  I studied art, and did an MA in Puppetry (yes, that's a real thing!) and then joined the circus! Along this journey I discovered my love of excel spreadsheets and chairing meetings, and ever since then I've been busy harnessing the talent of artists to create public programmes.  Prior to Woolwich Works, I was Senior Creative Producer at Tate Modern, leading on the Tate Modern Lates, have launched cultural centres, and taken puppets across London in every form possible!

You're currently Head of Creative Programming at Woolwich Works. Can you give us an insight into your responsibilities in this role?

I manage a small and talented team, and together we oversee the public programme. This includes large events like performance, live comedy, music gigs and foodie festivals, as well as smaller-scale events and community initiatives. The role is very varied, and every day is different, but a typical day might find me in departmental meetings, finalising contracts, reviewing artist proposals, or interviewing Christmas elves. One thing that I'm slightly obsessed with is getting people into the building, not only is it such a beautiful building, but it's a hub for an emerging and vibrant creative scene here in Woolwich, which you can only get a feel for when you pop in to take a look.

What is it about Woolwich Works that attracted you to the venue initially? And what has inspired your work in your time there?

The sense of possibility - there's so much to be done here, and we're only just starting. The space and location is beautiful, a Grade II listed building with Thames views, but it's also about the community and creatives that make Woolwich Works a very meaningful space. I enjoy that as a venue we're very open to working with a range of collaborators, and still exploring what works for our audience and space - so we're still learning, still growing, it's a great time to reach out and get involved.

What are some of your upcoming highlights for the rest of 2025 at Woolwich Works?

We're going to launch the summer season soon with our 'Courtyard Live', it will be a playful programme, bringing to life the courtyard, the central space in heart of Woolwich Works. We will have a rich mix of programming from music, to workshops and family activities. My personal highlight might be Woolwich Woofs - where we celebrate our four-legged friends, as well as the delicious Original Jerk Cookout and of course Brassworks, a fabulous festival of horns. 

We're called Stage to Page, but if you could turn any book from page to stage, what would it be?

Life Doesn't Frighten Me by Maya Angelou. It's a powerful poem, expressed with child-like simplicity, about facing fear, and the value of courage. It's full of vivid images; barking dogs, lions, ghosts, panthers, frogs, snakes. My version would bring these words to life with puppetry, animation and movement.

And finally, why should anyone reading this book tickets to visit Woolwich Works in the near future? 

I'd encourage anyone to visit Woolwich Works, as well as the other spaces in the Woolwich Creative District, to get a sense of what's going on in this part of town.

You can find out more about Woolwich Works, here.

**photo credit: Paul Sanders**