Who We Are

Director talking to actor in scene from Enchanted Forest

Artistic Director

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Suzanne Lofthus

Artistic Director

Like many other artists, Suzanne discovered theatre at a very early age and then was introduced to youth theatre as a teenager where she soon learnt the benefits that theatre brings. Over the years, Suzanne has had many adventures after leaving her job as a Manager in an oil company including performing outdoors in a banana plantation in Honduras to directing plays in prisons overseas.
She works in the company as a Director, Producer and has written a number of plays and books for musicals. She set Cutting Edge Theatre up in 1995 to “make a difference” and loves seeing how theatre can affect and change lives for the better.

 

Administrative Company Manager

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Heidi Vanttinen

Administrative Company Manager

Heidi is an experienced arts professional with a career spanning theatres, museums, and cultural venues. Over the years, she has held senior roles at major arts organisations including Edinburgh Playhouse, Tate Britain & Tate Modern, and several London West End theatres.  

Her responsibilities have ranged from overseeing large visitor-facing teams and developing staff training programmes, to managing budgets, coordinating events, and maintaining listed buildings. She also worked extensively on health and safety, policy development, and creating welcoming experiences that put audiences first. Heidi has also contributed to festivals, international touring, and museum learning projects—experiences that have strengthened her adaptability and creativity.  

Whether managing complex operations, supporting colleagues, or delivering excellent customer care, she is motivated by helping people feel valued and ensuring that cultural spaces and events run smoothly. Heidi brings energy, professionalism, and a collaborative spirit to every role, with a focus on making the arts accessible and welcoming for everyone. 

 

Associate Artists

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Katie Milne

Access / Education Co-ordinator

Katie trained in Acting for Stage and Screen BA (hons) at Queen Margaret and Napier University in Edinburgh and is an actress, part time lecturer at Fife College, freelancer within the creative industries, youth theatre facilitator and co-creator of children’s theatre company Pipe Up Productions.

Katie has worked as an INSPIRE Drama tutor for Cutting Edge Theatre since 2012 and loves facilitating weekly drama classes. She has a real passion for growing and developing Inspire.

Katie is also one of the Actors in the production “Downs with Love”.

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Nicholas Alban

Head of Cutting Edge Screen

Nick is an Actor & Facilitator from Edinburgh. Returning to Scotland after training on the BA (Hons) Acting course at the Royal Central School of Speech & Drama in London, he now divides his time between working as a performer on stage and screen, and running Drama classes and workshops for all ages.
Nick has worked with various drama groups, youth theatres, schools and day services. His workshops are always practical, with a focus on acting and performance technique, devised theatre and building everyone’s creative confidence in the process.
Nick is Associate Artist working with Lisa on the Young Company, Intermediate and Adult groups. Nick also heads up Cutting Edge Screen

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Lisa McDonald

Access / Education Co-ordinator

Lisa is a Director, Producer and Facilitator based in Edinburgh. She trained in Drama and Performance at Queen Margaret University. After graduating she is now working as a freelancer within the creative industries. Lisa is Co- Artistic Director of Simply Surreal and facilitates a wide range of workshops for all ages including puppetry and movement.

>Lisa loves collaborating with other creatives. In 2023, she produced and directed a theatre tour. Lisa is Associate Artist working with Nick on the Young Company, Intermediate and Adult groups.

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Fiona Linton

Artist

Fiona has worked with Cutting Edge since 2021, starting as a placement at college and now as one of our Associate Artists. 

Fiona graduated from Performing Arts Studio Scotland with a first class degree in BA Dance and Drama.

 Since graduating Fiona has continued working as a freelancer with Cutting Edge and various other companies such as Pilrig Park School and The Royal Lyceum Theatre.

Fiona now heads up our Children’s Group and is Co-leader of the Youth Theatre.

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Abigail Brydon

Artist

Trained at Fife College on the Level 5 Drama course and is one of the students at Cutting Edge Theatre’s INSPIRE programme. She initiated the role of Beth in “Downs with Love” in 2016 at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and went on to play her in the Scottish 2018 tour.

Abi has since performed in “Downs with Love” at a number of events including the World Congress of Down Syndrome 2018 in Glasgow, and a national tour of the production in Autumn of 2022. Abi has also been part of the “Let Me Be” Course exploring Shakespeare with Graeae and 1623 theatre companies and has just completed being mentored by them to be a facilitator of this course. Abi will shortly be heard on an NHS Advert along with Daniel from our Young Company who both recorded voiceovers.

 

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Janice Barbour

Artist

 Jan has always had an interest in drama, has been involved with amateur productions and joined INSPIRE drama group at the Adam Smith College, Dunfermline on Monday 7th January 2019.

During lockdown Jan decided to write the story of her life, and during the drama Zoom calls this came up in conversation. Suzanne was particularly interested and asked for Jan to forward it to her. This has now developed from a story of Jan’s life into a script called “Phased Out”, which will hopefully become a fully fledged stage play.

Facilitators

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Amy Adamson

Kirkcaldy

Amy is a freelancer within the creative industries and Facilitator based in Fife. Since graduating with a BA (Hons) in Acting for Stage and Screen at Queen Margaret and Napier University in 2019 Amy now spends her time Co-ordinating Studio 38 Youth Theatre and Facilitating drama workshops for 4-18year olds. Her workshops are a place where people are free to explore and be themselves.  She prides herself on being a kind, compassionate person who’s always free for a giggle or listening ear.

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Leah Christie

Aberdeen

Leah Christie studied Drama and Performance at Queen Margaret University, specialising in
community theatre and directing. She now works as a theatre facilitator across Scotland,
creating playful and engaging work with young people in schools, youth theatres and
community groups. Leah is especially interested in devising new performances, in unique
settings and with a story always at the heart. Her practice is focussed on helping participants
build confidence, creativity and self-expression through the arts.

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Jack Dickson

Youth theatre and Children

Jack is a performer and Theatre maker from Peebles in the Borders. He trained at PASS graduating with a BA in Dance and Drama and loves creating memorable and transformative theatre that leaves audiences with questions. Jack really enjoys physical theatre and Disney!

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Abigail Underwood

Aberdeen

Abigail Underwood is an emerging theatre artist with a passion for making the arts more accessible.
She has experience on various projects with organisations such as Birds of Paradise Theatre,
Aberdeen Performing Arts; Light The Blue Festival, North East Scotland College, wayWORD Festival and Ten Feet Tall Theatre. Abi also spent time with National Theatre of Scotland learning about their approach to access and gaining insights into industry best practice. 

She splits her practice between writing, acting, directing, and facilitation. She is incredibly excited about the prospect of bringing Cutting Edge Theatre to Aberdeen, cultivating the feelings of joy and fulfilment theatre ignites and highlighting to others the value that inclusion has on our society. She identifies as disabled and neurodivergent and is committed to challenging unhelpful pre-existing attitudes that act as barriers to inclusion.

Creative Assistants

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Xander Cowan

Creative Assistant - Edinburgh

Xander Cowan is a Leith based actor musician from the Scottish Borders.
Starting youth theatre at 8 years old was Xander’s first experience of the arts, since then he has been building a creative career, and has worked as a professional actor, and musician for over a decade.
He trained at Performing Arts Studio Scotland as well the Newcastle Theatre Royals intensive

training programme Project A.
Most recently he has appeared in the multi award winning production 1902 (Saltire Sky

Theatre), Macbeth & Midsummer Night’s Dream (Elysium Theatre) and Derby Day (Without
Compromise Theatre). He has recently just signed with Narrow Road, a leading London talent
agency.
Xander is keen to bring the skills and experiences he has learned over the years to Cutting Edge and aims to in-still the same enthusiasm, excitement and passion for theatre that he received as a young person, he can’t wait to join the team!

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Dylan Craig

Creative Assistant - Aberdeen

Dylan Craig is a recent graduate of North East Scotland College where he achieved his HND in Acting and Performance. He loves every part of the theatre experience, whether performing on stage or supporting others in their creative journey. Dylan is dedicated to helping performers build confidence and reach their goals.

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Becca Lamont

Creative Assistant and NHS tutor

Becca is a community theatre practitioner and HCPC registered Dramatherapist who is an advocate for theatre’s role in empowerment, communication and connection. She studied at Queen Margaret University and works in community theatre companies in Edinburgh and the Lothians.

Board of Directors

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Sarah Heney

Chair

Sarah has been a Board Trustee at Cutting Edge Theatre since 2017.
Previously she was employed as the Marketing Manager at The MGA Academy of Performing Arts in Edinburgh from 2012 to 2016.

Prior to that, in her role as Marketing Manager of the Edinburgh Playhouse from 1989 to 2012, Sarah led the marketing of the Edinburgh Playhouse through its transformation from rock venue to the hugely successful home to the West End musicals that it is today

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Clara Bloomfield

Clara is an award winning neuro-divergent international Theatre Maker, Lecturer, and Creative Therapist, renowned for her diverse approach to Theatre-Making. With a distinctive focus on theatre of the lived experience and theatre for health, she is dedicated to creating impactful performance and theatrical experiences ‘for’, ‘with’, and ‘by’ young people. Her work revolves around amplifying the voices of youth while promoting their mental and emotional well-being. Clara holds the distinction of being a Fellow of the Royal Society of the Arts and the Higher Educational Academy, as well as an Arts for Good Fellow for the Singapore International Foundation and an Associate for the Royal Society for Public Health.

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Douglas Roberts

 Douglas is a solicitor who specialises in corporate and sports law. He is actively involved in St Stephen’s Comely Bank Church in Edinburgh and enjoys keeping fit, watching football, rugby and pretty much any sport and travelling to new places

Douglas has been a supporter of Cutting Edge’s work for a number of years and been involved in a few of the projects in different capacities.

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Alan Scobie

Alan spent 20 years in travel and tourism, and has also been involved in variety of other business activities.

Currently involved in business management, Alan supported the work of Cutting Edge Theatre prior to joining the board in 2001 and has been key in helping the company develop and expand over the years. Alan really only has one hobby – football.