MEET THE TEAM

  • Chris Hawley

    Resident Director

    After working as a professional actor, across Stage & Screen for over 30 years, Chris became a key player in the Hampshire Theatrical scene, having founded, and acted as Artistic Director for BlackBox Theatre Company; one of the South’s leading professional touring theatre companies.

    An award-winning Writer and Director, Chris has several highly successful productions under his belt, including Making Money by Terry Pratchett, Macbeth for The RSC's Open Stages Project, Bouncers, Abigail’s Party and Blithe Spirit to name but a few. He has also penned the moving WWI dramady ‘Bully Beef & Whizzbangs’ as well as new interpretations of ‘Pygmalion’ and ‘The 39 Steps’, which he also directed.

    Chris was Director - and accidental choreographer - for Gamma Ray Theatre’s debut theatrical production: ‘Ay Up, Hitler!’.

  • David McCulloch

    Artistic Director

    David graduated from the University of Winchester with a BA Honours in Drama and Media Studies in 2012.

    He has worked as a professional actor, primarily for the stage, along with writing and producing, with a keen interest to promote work and creatives with the local Hampshire area.

    David was a producer and the writer behind Gamma Ray Theatre’s debut theatrical production ‘Ay Up, Hitler!’ A hilarious and biting satirical play that was nominated for the OffFest award for Best New Writing, and won the Derek Award for Outstanding Contribution to the Fringe at the 2023 Edinburgh Festival Fringe.

    David is also one of the co-founders of Gamma Ray Theatre.

  • Emily Meldrum

    Creative Producer

    Emily graduated from The Open University with a BA Honours in Arts and Humanities (Classical Studies) where she studied Academic and Creative Writing along with Classical Latin in Translation and Greek Myth.  

    As a writer and director Emily works freelance across the UK on professional and community based projects, with a passion for driving wider access to the arts.

     Along with their work at Gamma Ray Theatre, Emily is the co-founder of left eddy stories, a company dedicated to making work that subverts or disrupts the dominant narrative; giving a platform to overlooked and underrepresented voices.

     Emily’s debut full-length play, ‘Beneath the Camouflage Tree’ premiered at the egg, Theatre Royal Bath in 2024 ahead of a UK tour in Spring 2026.

Gamma Ray Theatre was originally founded by two actors/writers, Hannah-Cait Harrison and David McCulloch , with a passion for new writing and a desire to provide a safe and creative platform for it.

After taking part in the writing competition known as 28 Plays Later, which saw participants write a new short play every day, for the month of February, the question was asked: What if there was a theatre company which focused solely on new writing? A company started by writers and actors, and one that wants to hear from creatives of all backgrounds, be they established or just starting out.

Building on David’s desire, as a local Hampshire resident, to prove there is more to theatre than just what’s in London, GAMMA RAY THEATRE was born! A Hampshire based theatre company, dedicated to New Writing and providing opportunities for Aspiring Local Talent.