About Us
ABOUT US
Learn more about the people behind Durham Fringe Festival.
Maria Baranowska
Festival Manager & Delivery Team
With a foundation in marketing and communications, over the last few years Maria has shifted focus to project and event management and spent recent years delivering major projects for the Ouseburn Trust, including their annual Arts Festival and a new community venue 51 Lime Street. We’re very excited she’s bringing these skills and energy to DFF.
Sally Dixon
Partnerships Manager & Delivery Team
Sally has held various roles in North East England’s cultural sector over the past 25 years, and brings a broad base of experience across the arts, museums and heritage. Over the past decade, she has developed a specialism in preparing and delivering large scale fundraising campaigns, and she now leads on fundraising and partnerships portfolio for DFF.
Ellen Olley
Marketing Officer & Delivery Team
Ellen is an arts marketer and producer, currently working in audience development and community engagement at Durham University Student Performing Arts alongside working in marketing part-time for the Durham Fringe Festival and North East Film Orchestra.
Chris Blakeborough
Technical Lead, CDB Productions Solutions
Owner and Managing Director of CDB Production solutions who have provided stage, lighting, sound equipment and professional technicians for the Durham Fringe Festival since our inception.
Dr Stephen Cronin
Festival Director, Board Chair & Delivery Team
Retired: Paediatrician, Designated Doctor for Child Protection, and High Sheriff . Sometime Programme Maker, Scriptwriter, Set Designer, Director, and RTS award winner for Children’s Cancer Videos.
Peter Lotts
Technical Director, Board Director & Delivery Team
Passionate theatre technician and experienced Fringe technician, with experience building maintainable and scalable online experiences from high-level goals.
Daryl Folkard
Board Director & Delivery Team
Durham alumnus. Investment Banker, formerly at Foreign Office. Writer and Producer (Edinburgh and London Fringes). Co-founder of the Edible Art Movement.
Elizabeth Scott
Board Director
Durham County Council Portfolio Holder for Economy and Partnerships. Her professional background is in economic development and regeneration – and she ran her own business for 13 years.
Phil Cronin
Board Director
Phil has worked all his life in Sunderland; first in the Edward Thompson Group then founding Tombola.com. Retirement has allowed him to establish the Roseline Foundation to support Sunderland and the wider region.
Adam Shanley
Board Director
An avid Arts supporter, Adam started as a Festival volunteer in 2024. Adam is the Parish Clerk for Durham City as well as a Board Member on Durham Business Improvement District. In those roles, he enjoys organising major events in the City. Adam is a Director of the Festival in a personal capacity.
