Fiery Angel theatre producers launch new charity Second Stage, Michael Balogun announced as Patron

A new charity has been launched, taking professional theatre training into prisons to help people leaving the criminal justice system to find real job opportunities in live entertainment.

The charity, Second Stage, has been established by acclaimed theatre production company Fiery Angel, led by Edward Snape and Marilyn Eardley.

Fiery Angel is currently celebrating its 25th anniversary, and will raise funds for Second Stage at a charity benefit night on 6 November 2025 at the Bloomsbury Ballroom in London.

The evening of music and comedy will feature Rob Brydon, Fascinating Aida’s Dillie Keane, Clive Rowe and Michael Balogun, with further stars to be announced.

Actor Michael Balogun (The Lehman Trilogy for National Theatre, Romeo & Juliet for Jamie Lloyd Productions, Henry VI, Part 1 for the RSC), who has personal lived experience of the criminal justice system, is the charity’s first Patron-Ambassador.

Fiery Angel’s current productions include the new UK tour of Agatha Christie’s Death on the Nile, and the current tour of War Horse.

Their forthcoming productions include a new UK tour and London run in 2026 for Animal Farm, adapted and directed by Robert Icke.

The idea for Second Stage came from independent theatre producer Edward Snape, who has over 30 years in commercial and not-for-profit theatre. He, in turn, employed Jo Hutchison to do the initial research. Jo has over 30 years’ experience in arts marketing and set up, ran and sold the successful agency JHI. Together they are the charity’s founding members.

At the end of 2024, The Society of London Theatre (SOLT) and UK Theatre, the members’ body for regional theatre, conducted a survey which resulted in a report stating that there is a shortfall in staff to fill backstage jobs across our UK theatres and skills shortages found across most technical roles. In Second Stage’s research into marginalised communities who may not be aware of the theatre industry and the jobs available within it, they found that the opportunities being offered to prison leavers as part of their rehabilitation were limited and that there may be basic skills a prison-leaver might have, which could be easily transferable to an industry that has social care at its very heart.

Initially, Second Stage will work in HMP Hollesley Bay in Suffolk and HMP Isis (YOI) in London, alongside their governors, employment leads, employment advisory boards, the New Futures Network and the probation services with through-the-gate support from the charity No Going Back, to promote the theatre and live events industry and jobs available in it.

Trustees of Second Stage are Edward Snape, Colin Howes (Corporate Lawyer at Harbottle & Lewis, Charity Law Association member and Director of Comic Relief), Emily Thomas (Governor of HMP/YOI Isis) and Kash Bennett (Executive Director of Sonia Friedman Productions and former Managing Director and Producer of National Theatre Productions).

Jo Hutchison is the Executive Director of Second Stage and Fiona Somerville is the Operations Manager.

What They Said

Edward Snape said in a statement: “Second Stage has been an idea I have been thinking about for quite some time, having been inspired by James Timpson, our Minister of State for Prisons, Parole and Probation, who himself employs a significant number of prison leavers. I have always felt that the theatre industry is brilliant in welcoming people from all walks of life, and continues to strive to be increasingly inclusive to all. I know many of us feel like outsiders until we alight on a career in theatre. This combined with an entrance level skills shortage in theatre, it therefore seemed the perfect opportunity for us, as an industry, to consider welcoming prison leavers eager to get back into the workforce. The potential to alleviate both issues at once seemed too inspiring to ignore. It’s hard to believe that less than a year ago I explained my idea to Jo Hutchison, who took this idea and ran with it, resulting in an incredibly positive response from the theatre industry.”
Edward Snape

Jo Hutchison said: “Being tasked with researching the idea, it wasn’t something I could easily leave behind. Seeing the effect we could have on even a few, and hopefully many more young men, who had no idea our world even existed, was incredibly moving. Realising the privilege we all share in being part of the creative community, I wanted to provide a doorway into this community for these disadvantaged men. We have been met with support and encouragement from within HMPPS and from within our industry, so, with a lot of hard work and a few strong learning curves, I believe we will succeed in providing a conducive working environment for those society has left behind, while also addressing the pressing need to fill an entry-level staff shortage and increase diversity off stage.”

Emily Thomas Governor, HMP ISIS & Founder of Untold, said: “There is a real opportunity for the theatre industry to benefit from recruiting prison leavers who I know will be enthused by the career paths on offer in such a team led, collaborative, welcoming environment.”

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Second Stage

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Main photo: Second Stage - (L) Michael Balogun to become the charity's first Patron_Ambassador (Photo via agent) (R)A workshop at HMP Hollesley Bay given by Sebastian Barnes from ABTT (Photo by prison staff)