Julie Ellen started at the Greenock Arts Guild in July 2011 as Artistic Director of the Arts Guild Theatre and to prepare for the move to the £9.5million arts centre, The Beacon, which opened in Jan 2013. Previously Julie was Creative Director of Playwrights’ Studio, Scotland, from March 2004 and producer of Suspect Culture before that. She trained at Queen Margaret University and worked extensively in London and Scotland as an actor and director. Recent directing includes Nicola McCartney’s Miracle, Sandy Nelson’s Baltimire and The Glimmering Nymph for A Play, a Pie & a Pint. She was Assistant Director for Dundee Rep’s hit musical Sunshine on Leith (2008/9 tour) and Kieran Lynn’s Stranger from the Sea.