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We are delighted to welcome Angus MacKechnie as Creative Director at Jacksons Lane, working alongside Hannah Cox, our Executive Director as Joint CEO’s.

Angus has over 30 years’ experience across contemporary circus, outdoor arts and festivals. His career spans the National Theatre, OutdoorArtsUK and Imagineer Productions, where he most recently led the launch of Streets of Cov, a major city-wide outdoor festival.

Beth Chaudhary, Chair of the Board, said: “Angus brings a wealth of experience and bags of enthusiasm and ideas for Jacksons Lane’s next chapter as a hub for contemporary circus in the heart of Highgate and Haringey. Angus is committed to bringing together the creative opportunities in programming and in the community, on the basis that arts and culture change lives. We can’t wait to work with him.”

Adrian Porter, Head of Higher Education, National Centre for Circus Arts, said: “On behalf of the National Centre for Circus Arts, I would like to extend a warm and excited welcome to Angus MacKechnie, Jacksons Lane’s newly appointed Creative Director and Co-CEO. The connection between Jacksons Lane and the NCCA is over a decade old and in this time the mutual support and respect has been amazing. We look forward to continuing and deepening this relationship. Congratulations Angus.”

Current Executive Director & Joint CEO, Hannah Cox, said: “Angus’s deep connection to our artistic community and his passion for innovative performance perfectly aligns with our mission and values. His experience in programming and outdoor arts will help us commission bold new work, nurture diverse talent, and strengthen our role as the UK’s home for contemporary circus. Working alongside Angus, I’m excited to build on our 50-year legacy and shape a future that celebrates creativity, inclusivity, and collaboration with our artists, audiences, and local community.”

Angus MacKechnie added: “I’m absolutely thrilled to be stepping into the role of Creative Director and Joint CEO at Jacksons Lane so soon after the celebration of fifty fantastic years at the top of the hill. Jacksons Lane is a place that’s been part of my artistic DNA for a long time; it’s a place where artists, audiences and local communities meet and one that helped shape and hone my love of contemporary circus. Working alongside Hannah, it’s an enormous privilege to honour such a bold, spirited legacy while looking towards the next chapter: commissioning ambitious new work, nurturing diverse artists, building new audiences, and strengthening our place as a centre for circus excellence and as a shared creative home with our local community.”

About Angus MacKechnie

Angus MacKechnie is a cultural leader and creative producer with over 30 years’ experience across contemporary circus, outdoor arts, festivals and cultural programming. His career began at the National Theatre, where he worked under four artistic directorships and went on to lead major public-facing programmes, including the Platforms talks series and the Watch This Space festival, commissioning and producing large-scale, inclusive work for new audiences. 

He later became a Clore Leadership Fellow and spent eight years as Director of OutdoorArtsUK, growing its national influence, funding and advocacy role. Most recently, as CEO and Creative Director of Imagineer Productions, he led organisational change, strategic planning and the launch of Streets of Cov, a major city-wide outdoor festival. 

Angus brings a strong track record in commissioning new work, artist development, festival curation, partnership building and leading teams, with a particular focus on broad audience engagement and the civic role of performance.