Meet the Trustees | Dugald McNaughtan

Our Meet the Trustees series continues with our introduction of Dugald McNaughtan! Not only is Dugald a classically trained musician but he has worked with some iconic NGOs including Amnesty International and Greenpeace. Today we learn more about his time in a rock band, running an allotment and his hopes for 2021...

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How did you get involved with Insane Root?

Initially my partner Laura was approached to help form the new Insane Root board, but we quickly established that this would actually be a perfect fit for me!

We have both however been fans of the productions since seeing The Tempest in our earlier days of moving to Bristol, back in the 2010s...

Tell us a bit about your background?

I’m from Melbourne in Australia, but a dual citizen of the UK who has lived here since 2005.

Since then I have worked for a number of well-known NGOs, including Amnesty International and more recently Greenpeace; I currently work for The Wildlife Trusts as Head of Fundraising and Communications.

Throughout my life I have also been a keen musician, and spent an exciting decade previously in Australia as part of a touring, recording rock band, so am personally very interested in performance and the arts.

What is the best piece of theatre you’ve ever seen?

For creativity and innovation I think that Insane Root is hard to beat!

However some runners-up include Wise Children at the Bristol Old Vic (great staging) and in a completely different context, I was blown away by the scale and attention to detail of Secret Cinema’s immersive production (if that’s the right word) of Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back, which I attended in London a few years ago.

Have you found any positives from the experience of Lockdown – any new hobbies or skills?

Like many people I have found a great deal of solace in nature this year – I’ve been busy exploring nature reserves belonging to Avon Wildlife Trust and the Woodland and National Trusts when lockdown permits, and my partner and I have had a busy first year in our new allotment in Ashley Vale – so much to learn!

What is your favourite season?

Without a doubt it is spring – that feeling of renewal and potential, of nature opening up and blossoming, is going to be particularly poignant this year in 2021.

What three items would you take with you to a desert island?

I would bring a hifi system with turntable and vinyl records (I hope this counts as one thing – if not then something to play Spotify through), my bike (how big is this island?) and my cat Wilfy.

What is one thing you are really bad at?

Writing concise answers to interview questions…

And finally, what are you most looking forward to as a trustee of Insane Root Theatre CIO?

Without a doubt, the return of live theatre – and being able to play a small part in making this happen!