Composer, musical director, and sound designer Ben Occhipinti has been awarded a paid residency for 18 months at Bolton Octagon Theatre as part of the Regional Theatre Young Director Scheme 2016/2017—a position previously awarded to current artistic director Elizabeth Newman.
Ben is to be one of just three directors selected to work in regional theatres, with Cardiff-based Julia Thomas and London-based Lekan Lawal awarded positions at Curve Theatre, Leicester and Derby Theatre.
Wiltshire-born Ben has a passion for musical theatre and opera and has recently worked on the composition and musical direction of a number of Octagon productions, including Piaf, Private Lives and currently The Family Way.