Interview: Lucy Noble On The Royal Albert Hall's Women and the Hall Programme

Lucy Noble is the Artistic and Commercial Director of the Royal Albert Hall, which is currently running a Women and the Hall programme. It celebrates the anniversary of the Representation of the People Act of 1918, which granted women the right to vote, and the Hall's continuing place in the women's movement.

Did you have much exposure to the arts growing up?

Absolutely; my family loved music and I was introduced to it at a very early age. We went to see a lot of jazz, and as a young musician I was lucky to get a lot of wonderful opportunities.

What and where did you study?

I studied music at the Royal College of Music.

Were you initially drawn to performance, and if so, how did that transition into the organisational side of the industry?

I performed a lot as a musician, playing the flute in classical ensembles and for pop acts, and I still do. However, I also love organising, and when I was a steward at the Hall, while still studying at the RCM, I clearly remember seeing the lady who was doing the job similar to my job now and saying: "That's the job I want to do".

Was it difficult getting that first job in the arts?

My first job was temping for two weeks at the dance house, Sadler's Wells. My flatmate worked there and knew that they wanted someone. I worked really hard during those two weeks, doing all the jobs that you think might be boring - fetching tea and coffee, faxing documents, and so on - and then they offered me a permanent role. I stayed there for two years. So for me, I had a lucky break.

What led you to your current role at the Royal Albert Hall?

IMG offered me a role looking after performers like Darcey Bussell when they were on tour, but it wasn't for me. I particularly missed the intimacy I'd felt working at a venue. In 2002, the programming department at the Royal Albert Hall was having a shake-up, so I went for a role there, and was appointed Lettings Manager.

Two years later I became Programming Manager, and in 2008, Head of Programming and Education. In 2015, I was made Director of Events, and my role has since expanded to encompass several other areas.

What exactly does being Commercial and Artistic Director entail?

It means that I oversee all of our shows, our Education & Outreach work, our corporate partnerships, and our Production & Technical teams. There's always a balance to be struck between artistic and commercial concerns. We pride ourselves on pushing the envelope creatively, but as we don't receive any revenue funding from central government, we also need to make sure that we generate enough money to continue to expand our outreach programme, and to not only maintain but also to continually modernise our beloved Grade I-listed building.

We wouldn't put on shows that we didn't believe in (as well as believing they could sell out!), and the unrivalled diversity and variety of our show roster is something that continues to excite me. Our programme really is like no other.

What are the major things you consider when programming for the Hall?

There are many different factors, but the artistic integrity of the event, whether it has the capacity to sell out - which usually means selling around 5,200 tickets - and its potential to bring a new audience to the Hall are all important considerations.

How was the Women and the Hall season conceived?

The Suffragettes and Suffragists held more than 20 high-profile rallies at the Hall, with Emmeline Pankhurst referring to our building as "a temple of liberty", so we felt it would be fitting to mark 100 years since the success of the Votes for Women campaign by doing something special.

Our idea was to look at the roles of women in Britain - past, present and future - by curating a season with an all-female line-up, featuring important and distinctive voices of all backgrounds across spoken word, music, screenings, tours, and events designed to help young women navigate what remains a male-dominated industry.

Is there a piece of the current programme that you're particularly excited about?

I'm excited about so many of the events we're putting on, but I'm particularly looking forward to the 'Women in Music' Industry Insights talk that I'll be hosting on the main stage. We have nearly 400 young women coming along to hear some fabulous music industry ladies talk about their jobs, working lives and much more.

The likes of agents Emma Banks and Lucy Dickins, Decca Records president Rebecca Allen, and Maggie Crowe of the British Phonographic Industry will offer advice to the next generation of female industry professionals, first via a panel discussion and later face to face.

What's the audience make-up for the Hall, and are you concerned about diversifying?

The audience make-up varies vastly depending on the show, but yes, this is an absolutely central part of our approach to both programming and our Education & Outreach work.

Recent shows featuring Wizkid, Alter Bridge, Sigma and Soundcrash have brought different audiences to the Hall, as has the Albert Sessions programme, which enables up-and-coming acts to make their headline debuts, while guaranteeing lower ticket prices, and a workshop for local teenagers.

In the past decade, our non-auditorium programme has expanded to around 650 shows a year, again bringing a younger audience to the Hall, and offering cheaper tickets.

Do programming elements like the live concert film screenings help open up the Hall to different audiences?

Yes - while also exposing film fans to the magic of live classical music.

Why do you think it's important that everyone has access to artistic programming like live music?

Live music has so many benefits: the unforgettable memories these concerts create are hugely special, and there are social and medical benefits from attending such a personal but uplifting and communal event. I feel that being able to experience the arts shouldn't be a luxury, but a right, and we hope that - regardless of background - people are able not only to afford to come to the Hall, but to find something within our programme that excites and transports them.

Are you proud to be a woman in such a pivotal position, particularly in a climate where the arts is addressing its gender power imbalance?

I am so proud to be in my position and to be able to have an impact through innovative programming such as this festival. I hope that younger women do look up to me and can see what can be achieved. I'm from a non-privileged background and made my way on my own into this business, which I'm very proud of.

How can we support more women into powerful positions in the arts? Are there systemic improvements you'd like to see?

I think there are some areas of the arts where women are represented well, but we see very few female promoters coming to hire the Hall. That side of the industry is so male-dominated. We offer schemes such as our apprenticeships programme and the Young Producers initiative - in which a group of 18 to 25 year olds run a whole weekend of events at the Hall - where we make sure that people from all backgrounds are represented.

You've spoken about juggling parenthood with your work. What has that been like, and how could organisations improve conditions for working parents?

I wouldn't be able to be a working mum without the amazing support that I get from my partner Ben. When I took on the position of a director at the Hall, he cut down his hours so that he could do more childcare. We wanted one of us to be there more for the children. It's really difficult - finding a balance is tricky.

You never have the chance to stop. I walk in the door at home and the other job takes over. It's exhausting but all worth it. I'm feeling it at the moment because I have a six-month-old baby!

Organisations need to be supportive of mums and that means flexible working, including some working from home where possible. Working mums are some of the best workers because they're multitasking to a level you can't possibly imagine. They are amazing.

What are some of the things you're most proud of during your tenure at the Hall?

I'm proud of so much. I love our award winning Education & Outreach programme, which I have overseen now for some six years. We reach so many people of all ages from zero to 100 and beyond, and every time I see one of our projects I am so moved.

In recent years, we have started producing and making our own shows - a new area for the Hall to venture into - and it's very exciting as we take more control artistically. I love being able to use my training as a musician to create these shows.

What are your main priorities going forward?

The next big thing for us is our 150th - three years away and very important to us. We have some big things planned!

Finally, what advice would you give to young people - particularly women - who would love to follow a similar career path to yours?

Take every opportunity you can - do all the jobs asked of you, even if it's the boring stuff. Be happy, polite and work hard. Don't complain.

The Woman and the Hall programme runs until 26 April

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