About us
Hello! We are Ben, Andrew, and Gwen. We founded The Bridge Ensemble in 2022 to bring professional quality, creative, and accessible theatre experiences to North Wales.
We have a passion for positively disrupting community and leaving artistic legacy for future generations.
Who are we?
Ben Crystal – curator & producer
Ben is an actor, author, director, and theatre producer. He is an associate artist with the Shakespeare North Playhouse, and has curated for Shakespeare’s Globe, the BBC, the British Library, and the British Council. Ben has written several books about Shakespeare and specialises in the ‘quick raise’ method of creating productions in a few days, based on how theatre was made in Shakespeare’s time.
Ben grew up on Anglesey and is passionate about making theatre and the arts accessible in North Wales.
Gwen Thompson – producer
Gwen is a theatre director who specialises in physical performance and circus. She is an actor, puppeteer, musician, and circus performer. Gwen has toured with theatre and circus companies around the UK and Europe and is based in Wales.
Her film Ffolio: Echdoe can be seen at ffilmcymruwales.com/our-work/ffolio-echdoe
Andrew Codispoti – producer
Andrew is a wandering theatre-maker. He has travelled the world creating shows as a performer, Artistic Director and curator with Advice to the Players, Seven Stages Theatre Company, and The Barnstormers Theatre, and Vicious Mole Theatre. He is a founding member of both The Shakespeare Theatre and the Bridge Theatre Ensemble.