CEO and Artistic Director of National Youth Theatre

James Northcote is an Actor, Producer and founder of virtual entertainment channel Nowalls Live. Best known for his film and television work (The Last Kingdom, Fool Me Once, Catherine the Great, Wuthering Heights). His first short film as a producer was selected in 2015 for the BFI and British Council global streaming project Five Films for Freedom. In 2023 he founded Nowalls Live to explore the intersection of live performance, multiplayer gaming and audience interaction. The debut show at Insomnia Gaming Festival i71 brought an online and in person audience together to play live with game actors Neil Newbon and Harry McEntire. James has spent 10 years focussed on the crossover between filmmaking, technology & theatre and is passionate about supporting the next generation of talent to find new tools for creativity and performance.

Dr Fiona French is an Associate Professor in the School of Computing and Digital Media. She is course leader for BSc Games Programming and a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA).