Gisela Schmidt Martin

I am delighted to be Chair of the GAOS Committee! It is a great honour and responsibility to take up the role, but being on the Committee has been a lot of fun so far, and I am ready to do my best for our society.

I moved to Geneva in 2014 and sang in the choral group’s Christmas concert, before re-joining GAOS in 2021, performing in several shows and pantos since then. I’m a humanitarian advocate, which can be quite serious work, so being involved with GAOS is a great way to get creative and have fun!

Jo Beveridge

I grew up in the UK’s Lake District and was lucky enough to have Lake Windermere as my childhood playground, real Swallows and Amazons stuff. I arrived in Geneva in 1995 and joined GAOS in 1997. Since then, GAOS has truly been a family affair, both my daughters grew up on the GAOS stage, and now together with my husband Norman and my stepson Matt we are all active participants in nearly every production. Before taking on the GAOS chairmanship, I was heavily involved in Swiss Netball as a founding member. I could in the early days be found in Swiss kit, Team Managing the National U17 squad at European championships.

I have previously served on the GAOS committee as Membership Secretary, and now after three wonderful years as Chairman, I’m now looking forward to supporting Gisela as Vice Chairman.

Bindu Kapur

I’ve been with GAOS on and off for 25+ years. Initially, I was on-stage, usually in dancing roles, but occasionally singing and acting as well. These days I much prefer being behind the scenes choreographing, sometimes directing, and supporting GAOS as a committee member. Having served as Business Manager in 2018, I’m delighted to be back on the committee as Secretary.

In my real life I split my time between Vienna and Geneva, depending on where my family and cats (and GAOS) need me. In 2024, after many years in the corporate and international organization world, I started my own business.

David Ball

GAOS quite literally is my family. That I’m still involved after 45 years is curious as I can’t act, dance or sing. More remarkable is surviving 70’s and early 80’s lighting box special effects: dense smoke came courtesy of Gauloise and Marlborough chain smokers, while using the lighting and sound consoles as large beer coasters occasionally produced a spark, bang and burnt electric smell.

So, when asked to take on the role of Treasurer some 3 years ago, I thought it would be a safer way of giving something back to GAOS, and it mostly is. Nonetheless, our homegrown accounting database has been no bed of roses, and our move upstairs no pleasure cruise… In addition to paying the bills and keeping our finances in check, my other GAOS pastimes are set design/construction/painting and helping backstage.

Alongside GAOS, I’m proud to work for Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance that has helped vaccinate more than half the world’s children against deadly and debilitating infectious diseases. We’re the backstage of public health. I also very much enjoy playing tennis, cycling, hiking and skiing.

Wenona Christie

I’ve been involved with school and community theatre on and off since the age of 12, first in Minnesota, USA and in Geneva since 2001.

My first GAOS show was in 2003. I was in two productions before taking a break to have my two children. I came back in 2017 with my seven-year-old son for that year’s winter production, and have been involved with GAOS onstage, backstage and on the Committee ever since.

My day job is in Procurement Services at the International Trade Centre. In addition to my 15-year-old son, who also continues to be involved with GAOS, I have a 20-year-old daughter, 1 dog and 2 cats. I look forward to rejoining the Committee and working with this great team!

Chris Cartwright

I have been involved in GAOS since 2017 when my daughter Thea appeared in The Wizard of Oz.

At that stage I was mostly the chauffeur taking her to shows and rehearsals. She then appeared in every Christmas show since and more recently appeared as Cosette in Les Misérables Schools Edition. Meanwhile my partner Alexia then got involved, initially helping with the children backstage, then working in choreography for Aladdin and Les Mis.

She asked me, as marketing is my day job, to help on publicity for TWENTY (in which both Thea and her sister Orla performed), Aladdin and Les Mis – and I helped on the bar for many of the shows. Happy now to take on a fuller marketing role and serve on the Committee too!

I have not been on stage yet……never say never though as I did grow up in Stratford on Avon…..

Derek Mathieson

I first came to the area in as a student 1989, joining GAOS a few years later. I was working the bar at the (in)famous Mikado 'stage dive' performance, and later played a roman soldier in The Ice Maiden before leaving the area to work in the USA.

After returning to the area, I rejoined GAOS in 2019, helping with lighting in The Wind in the Willows. Since then, I have been on the lighting team for nearly every GAOS show. Outside of GAOS, I work at CERN managing a group of software engineers.

Cheryl Rooney

From finally being allowed to join my Dad on stage in '79 (aged 6) to proudly seeing my daughter follow the family trend for a number of shows, GAOS has always played an important role in my life. Who knows, in a few years time, we may have 4 generations involved!

When my family situation allowed, it was a natural progression to join the Committee as Membership secretary a few years ago. I also love helping teach the children's choreography and my more recent role, following my Mum's footsteps, working on ticket sales. When not GAOSing, I'm a paediatric nurse in a busy medical practice and a senior trainer of CPR and First aid. In my spare time, I enjoy swimming, Pilates, line dancing, baton twirling and am currently learning how to crochet (all advice accepted)!

Lucy Irwin

Having grown up in Geneva, I was fortunate to spend much of my childhood both on and around the stage, performing in numerous pantomimes as part of the children’s chorus and later working as a stage manager for youth productions with GAOS. This early experience inspired me to pursue formal training at Rose Bruford College in London, where I studied stage management a path made possible thanks to the foundation GAOS provided. I then transitioned into corporate event management, leveraging the transferable skills gained from stage management. Over the years, I have had the privilege of working with leading companies and contributing to high-profile events, including the opening ceremony of the Rugby World Cup in 2015.

I am delighted to serve on the GAOS committee as a way of giving back to the society that played such a pivotal role in launching my career.

Lauren Stocker

At two years old I first performed in my first ballet recital and apparently did not want to leave the stage after the dance (literally my teacher had to walk on stage and lift me off)! And I have participated in different musicals and dance shows ever since! I moved to Geneva from London two years ago with my husband, and I am so excited that I can continue my love of performing at GAOS and now be a part of the committee!

I work in marketing and strategy and hopefully can use some of these skills as the publicity for GAOS!