Meet the team
FBTS is run by a team of locals with a background in the creative industries, a passion for the arts and a desire to give back to the local community.
Rory Steel
Festival Director
Having been brought up flyering, making props or lugging sets into vans for various shows of mother’s touring theatre group, Rory has had a passion for the arts from a very young age. After a career creating experiences at a number of festivals across the UK, Rory joined Fringe by the Sea in 2018 to help shape the festival for the next decade.
Jackie Shuttleworth
General Manager
An NB local, Jackie is the general sorter outer for FBTS. With a background in events, marketing and journalism, she keeps the plates spinning across the festival realm – from programming to community relations.
Debbie Shinton
Festival Coordinator
Having lived in North Berwick for 16 years and being a lover of all things creative, Fringe by the Sea is a natural home for Debbie. Previously an Account Director at Scotland’s leading advertising agency, she has a wealth of experience coordinating creatively led activity.
Ali Wales
Production Manager
The longest serving of the Fringe by the Sea team, Ali has been involved since the festival’s incarnation in 2008 – his father, Eric, was a co-founder of the event! As well as ensuring all runs smoothly behind the scenes, Ali can often be seen on stage as a member of festival favourite, ska band Bombskare.
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