I am Gina Kelly.

Originally from Birmingham, I started my “stage” career at the age of 3, learning ballet, tap, jazz & ballroom dancing, and performing in numerous local shows and pantomines. I discovered a love of drama at school (as a founding member of Limited Edition Youth Theatre) and also as a “Saturday student” at The Birmingham School of Speech Training and Dramatic Art. It was here that I realised that being “backstage” was where my real talents lay – and I am forever grateful for the support, training and opportunites given to me there in stage management, lighting & sound, set building, and even directing.

I left Birmingham to start a degree course in Biology at The College of Ripon & York St John but the temptations of the college “Theatre, Operatic Arts & Drama Society” (TOADS), where I became the regular stage hand/ stage manager/ assistant director, kept me away from my studies but found me a husband !

The needs of my young family came first, and I started a 26 year career as a civil servant in the Ministry of Defence. A move to Dawlish (Devon) in 1991 opened up opportunities to work with wonderfully talented artists in the “amateur” world of community music theatre.

In 2012 I moved (on secondment with the UK MOD) to Bonn. It was here, as a non-German speaking expat, that I found a new home for my energies – The Bonn Players. Over the past 6 years I have been privileged to be involved in all the main productions (either as stage manager or director), and especially as director of our 2018 FEATS entry of Same Time, Next Year, which won 4 out of the 7 major awards.

I am now working as Office Manager for The American Protestant Church, Bonn – and I am grateful for the support and understanding of all my colleagues there (particularly during those frantic weeks around performance dates !!!)

As Vice-Chair for 2021 (our 40th year ), I am looking forward to nurturing our new directors and stagecraft teams, supporting our new Youth Theatre Group initiative, and working tirelessly with Tracy and the whole committee to ensure the successful continuation of The Bonn Players for the next 40 years.