Team
Viv Gordon – Artistic Director
Grounded in her lived experience, Viv’s work is rooted in collaboration and creative risk, inviting audiences and partners into spaces that are emotionally resonant, challenging and alive.
Viv is an inspiring collaborator: generous, rigorous and visionary.
Working with her means engaging with art that matters, led by an artist who brings courage, care and creative leadership to everything she does.
From installations and live performance to punk-inspired music and film, Viv’s artistic practice is driven by imagination, integrity and a fierce commitment to storytelling that cuts through silence.
She harnesses her personal narrative to a radical agenda using creative activism to challenge harmful narratives, amplify survivor voices, and drive cultural change.
As Artistic Director of Viv Gordon Company, she leads nationally recognised projects that build community, ignite collective resistance, influence policy and vision new futures by, for and with the CSA survivor community.
Sarah Blowers – Executive Producer
Sarah has worked in the arts for over 25 years as an actor/musician, co-artistic director, consultant on co-created practise and fundraiser.
She brings in-depth knowledge of the contemporary arts sector, a passion for live performance and a love of developing organisations in a safe and held way.
Creating artistically excellent work, co-creating projects with CSA communities and seeing first hand the real change that this approach has is what makes Sarah get out of bed in the morning.
Beth Williams – Comms Coordinator
Beth is a creative activist, trainer and communications specialist with over a decade of experience in the VAWG (Violence Against Women & Girls) and social justice sector.
Her work has involved training, campaigning and survivor support, including leading initiatives at The Women’s Centre Cornwall and organising Reclaim the Night events.
Rooted in creativity, her work centres art as a form of resistance and collective empowerment.
Codirectors
Kate McStraw – Co-Founder
Kate McStraw is a Creative Producer with over a decade of experience in the arts and cultural sector. Specialising in accessible arts practice, she is a passionate advocate for inclusive cultures and social justice.
She is Co-Founder of Viv Gordon Company, where she served as Executive Producer from 2020-2026, supporting the organisation’s growth and development, including overseeing the national UpFront Survivors programme and producing developments of Viv’s shows ‘Restless’ and ‘Cutting Out’.
Vicki Balaam – Chair
Vicki is a passionate social justice activist with a long track record of changemaking within the arts, first as the founder of integrated dance company, StopGAP. Now, she produces artists and projects who share this desire to make change and nurture community cohesion. She is currently the Executive Director of One World Orchestra, an international collective of musicians from over 12 countries who create distinctive music across diverse traditions.
“As a CSA survivor, I am proud to join the dazzle and be part of a community that is disrupting the isolation that so many survivors have been existing within.”
Advisory Board
Vick Balaam (Chair)
Maggie Parks OBE
Dr Akima Thomas OBE
Chris Fogg
Emma Bryson
Collaborators
Tom Roden
Tom is a theatre director, choreographer, performer and coach working across dance, theatre, opera and comedy. He is co-director of award winning comedy dance theatre duo New Art Club and makes and tours family work with Anatomical. Tom directed Cutting Out, ORAL and I am Joan.
“VGC’s work offers a space of honesty and care with a fierce, uncompromising voice”
Quinta
Quinta is an artist, multi-instrumentalist and multi-disciplinary maker working experimentally at the intersection of art music, improvisation, electronics, DIY, video/visuals, and pop. Qunita composes and performs music with the Restless band and previously for ORAL and Imagine if bones could talk…
“It’s a privilege to be an ally alongside survivors in their fight for justice and change”
Thomas Johnson
Thomas Johnson is a composer, musical director and musician, with 30 years of experience in theatre, broadcast media, concert music and bands. He is training to be an HCPC-registered Music Therapist. Tom composes and performs music with the Restless band and previously for Cutting Out and I am Joan.
“The activism powers the art, and the art is visceral, beautiful, hilarious and angry.”
Maddy Kiley
Maddy is a bass player and session musician currently touring with Bronwen Lewis and Virgil and the Accelerators. She plays bass in the Restless band.
Imogen Harvey-Lewis
Imogen Harvey-Lewis is a graphic artist and illustrator, working across commercial, private and personal commissions. Her style is honed, honest and direct, capturing the nuances of body language, situation and emotion. She is studying an MA in Character Animation at Central Saint Martin’s. Imogen illustrated An ABC of CSA and designed the set for Cutting Out.
Sean Randle
Sean is a musician and percussionist who recently toured extensively with five times BBC Folk Awards winners Oysterband and played on their album Read The Sky. His 35 year professional career spans post-punk, r’nb, jazz, world music, indie and folk. He drums with the Restless band.