Hilary Hughes

Hilary Hughes was born in Bromborough, Cheshire to John Hughes, a World War 2 Spitfire pilot, and mother Audrey. Early in her career, she became lighting designer and stage manager for Peter Sykes' Edinburgh fringe shows and joined his Ritual and Tribal Theatre. In 1985 she was part of a trio of women who formed Beavers,^[3] now known as B arts, a participatory arts organisation based in Stoke-on-Tent, establishing itself as the UK first female-led outdoor arts company. Regional performances followed over her 40-year career, including street theatre works as part of the Stoke-on-Trent Garden Festival in 1985, The Weird Sisters of Charshe (1985), performances at Glastonbury and the Hat Fair, and many other participatory, outdoor arts performances. International performances included events in Mostar, Bosnia (1995), continuing her work with refugees and migrant communities.^[4]

She was a member of Welfare State International, Theatre of Fire and Emergency Exit Arts, working as a lantern maker, production and project manager.^[5][6] She received an honorary doctor of Staffordshire University in 2013.^[2] In 2021, Hilary Hughes died in Royal Stoke University Hospital after a short battle with COVID-19.^[7][8]