Lauren Desjardins

I am the Production and Facilities Manager for Catherine Wheels, and it is my job to look after the technical side of productions. I make sure we have everything we need for the show to go on – sound equipment, lighting equipment, set, props, stage managers! And not forgetting the van to put it all in. I’m also responsible for making sure our rehearsal room and storage is in tip top shape.

I grew up in a small village in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire. I always loved going to the theatre and performing, and didn’t want to stop after school so I went to the University of Salford to study Performing Arts. I quickly realised when I got there that I didn’t want to actually be on the stage, I wanted to run it! I stage and production managed a number of shows for the university theatre company, Almost Famous, and I decided this suited me much better than being in the limelight. 

I worked my first Edinburgh Fringe in 2011 and fell in love with the city, but I didn’t move up here until 2015. I had been too busy sailing the seven seas on cruise ships working as stage staff. But upon my return I decided to study stage management properly and moved up for a one year course at Edinburgh Stage Management School, and I’ve been working in the industry ever since.

I joined Catherine Wheels in March 2023, but prior to that I had worked on many shows with them as a freelance stage manager. They have always been one of my favourite companies to work for and I am so excited to be a part of the team!

I work part time for Catherine Wheels, and the rest of the time is taken up by my favourite project of all, my baby daughter Lillidot. She’s fab.