Pluto Productions Brian Daniels Trustees Staff Associate Directors
Introduction Play themes, titles and outlines Hosting a play Commissioning a play Upcoming Performances Video block
Using drama for education and learning
 
 
 
 

TRUSTEES

 

Godfrey Smith

Godfrey has been a Trustee with Pluto Productions for over 20 years. He is a Chartered Accountant and spent around 11 years working for one of the big four in audit. Subsequently, he was Chief Accountant at The Times and Sunday Times for five years in the period leading up to the dispute between management and the unions resulting in the move out of Fleet Street. Further moves included the role of Financial Controller for international banks based in London. He retired in 2009 and has kept busy in the field of primary education, both in local governing bodies and as a Trustee of a medium sized Academy Trust. He has continued his involvement with one international bank as a Trustee of certain pension schemes.

“In my spare time,” says Godfrey, “I have a large family and spend a lot of time with them. I am active in my local community including the running of a monthly lunch and film club for the lonely and isolated and organising local community events”.

 
 

Dr Helen Findlay

Helen became a trustee with Pluto Productions in 2020. She is a communications professional with extensive experience as a writer and editor of magazines and newspapers and other printed materials and online, as well as in campaign planning and delivery, project management and fundraising. She has held senior in-house communications positions within business and industry in the fields of energy, electronics, and finance as well as within the public, political, voluntary and charitable sectors over many years and in consultancy. She has two degrees in politics, including an MSc, plus a PhD on service user involvement in palliative care from Brunel University. She is a Patient and Public Involvement representative and research partner with several palliative care and research organisations, such as Marie Curie and the National Institute for Health and Care Research, and is working on research projects with the Cicely Saunders Institute located at King’s College, London.

“I am very pleased and proud to be a trustee with Pluto Productions. It has a formidable portfolio of plays under its banner, covering a wide range of issues in health and social care and society, all inspired by true stories. Using drama is a tremendous way of presenting sometimes difficult subjects to an audience and the plays help encourage discussion, reflection, and prompt changes in attitudes among audiences.”

 
 

Yvonne Rose OBE

Yvonne is a retired IFA. She ran her own business for over 20 years, after working as a trade union official and for a major building society, where she set up Financial Services for Women – a communications programme aimed at empowering women. Throughout her career, Yvonne has also volunteered with charities and the public sector, frequently chairing governing bodies – from colleges and universities to the Visitors’ Centre at HMP Leeds. In 2001, she was awarded the OBE for services to further education. Having supported Pluto Play Productions since its inception, she became a trustee in 2021. 

Yvonne lives in Bedale in North Yorkshire, where her community involvement includes being a trustee for several local charities.

 
 

Helen Collins

Helen is a senior nurse with 36 years’ experience of working in different sectors within the health service. This includes the mental health, acute, tertiary and commissioning sectors. She has held several senior positions predominantly related to patient safety and experience and is trained in human factors. In recent years, she has conducted many independent safety investigations across the country. Her involvement with staff during these investigations, and hearing about the detrimental impact errors can have on individuals, led her to embark on a MSc Trauma Practitioner course at the University of Buckingham. When qualified in 2027, she will be able to provide trauma care, and would like to focus specifically on healthcare staff.

Helen’s involvement with Pluto Productions began in 2019 while she was the Head of Patient Experience at an acute provider in Surrey. She wanted to change the way the organisation taught staff to deal with poor patient experiences. Using a real-life complaint, Brian Daniels, Artistic Director and Senior Playwright, Pluto Productions and Helen came up with the play, 'You killed my husband'. The play was positively received, and engaged staff through breaks and discussions as it was performed. Brian and Helen then worked on a play about living with Dementia called, 'Where or when'.

“I am passionate about changing the way healthcare staff are trained,” says Helen. “I believe that the creative arts provide a great opportunity for learning objectives to be achieved and, more importantly, sustained. The emotional responses that the plays provoke ensure a deep and lasting understanding in those watching.”

Helen is married and has two daughters. Her hobbies include walking, exercise classes, swimming, cooking and live music concerts. She has recently become a granny, and regularly travels to Chesterfield to see her grandchild.

 
 

Dr Helen Garr

Helen is a GP and recognised expert and leader in the field of wellbeing and mental health. She is known for her energetic and unique approach to wellbeing with a call to make her Wellbeing GP training content ‘mandatory for all in the NHS’. She has delivered talks to audiences across the world and is a frequent guest on TV and radio, appearing on BBC Politics live, Woman’s hour, Radio 5 live, The Jeremy Vine Show and many more.

Helen is Medical Director of NHS Practitioner Health, a national service supporting Healthcare professionals with mental health and addiction difficulties and believed to be the biggest of its kind in the world.

Having worked for many years in student health as a GP at the University of Nottingham Health Service, Helen also continues to work in out of hours general practice. She has a background in psychology and nursing prior to entering medicine and is a former Public Health England Clinical Champion for physical activity, Director of the British Society of Lifestyle Medicine and coach and mentor for healthcare professionals. She sits on several national expert groups and has contributed to many national mental health and wellbeing policies and guidance. She is a Nottinghamshire Medical committee member and is their Wellbeing lead. Helen is known for her engaging speaking style and commitment to compassionate leadership and kindness in healthcare.

Helen can often be found open water swimming (mainly in the summer), running half marathons (slowly) and walking her chocolate Labrador called Eileen.