Meet the Team

NAME: ADRIAN BROOKS

JOB TITLE: MANAGING DIRECTOR

BIOG: Adrian Brooks’ early career involved pioneering aluminium tower structures and products. He invented the world’s first light weight aluminium truss system Astralite, which soon became industry standard in the entertainment, leisure, retail and architectural markets. He founded Litestructures to build on the reputation of Astralite and went on to create many notable ‘firsts’, such as the world’s premier stage decking system Litedeck and Astralive, the first system to incorporate live tracking to carry mains power.

Developing and extending these innovative concepts kept him in touch with the concert and touring marketplace, and he went on to build the LS-Live Studio in 2005. Adrian is continually looking for new opportunities to develop the West Yorkshire facility.

SKILLS: Business development, commercial knowledge, management, staging and trussing product knowledge.

INVOLVEMENT IN YOUR PROJECT: Rather than day-to-day involvement in projects, Adrian seeks and manages new business opportunities, and is open to discussions on this front.

PERSONAL INTERESTS: Real ale, music and anything with an engine!

NAME: BEN BROOKS

JOB TITLE: GENERAL MANAGER

BIOG: Adrian Brooks’ son Ben cut his teeth building stages for festivals and galas during the weekends whilst at school. Ben committed wholeheartedly to the family business after completing his GCSE’s, beginning in the hire department prepping jobs, working on events and small tours, then working on the permanent installation side of the operation. Having later run both the studio and hire department, Ben saw an opportunity to set up Litestructures Live in 2010 to represent this hire side of the business in order to remove the conflict between operating both as a hire and sales company under the Litestructures banner. Although just 24, Ben is now General Manager of the re-branded LS-Live, overseeing all aspects of the business.

SKILLS: Project management, logistics, staging and trussing product knowledge, stage and set design and build, commercial knowledge of the touring marketplace, sales

INVOLVEMENT IN YOUR PROJECT: Ben will be involved in most set and staging projects from the initial concept stage through to the final design stages, working with the team to ensure your project is delivered on time, in budget and to your satisfaction.

PERSONAL INTERESTS: Anything with an engine!

NAME: PAUL ‘PABLO’ EDWARDS

JOB TITLE: OPERATIONS MANAGER

BIOG: Pablo was formerly a self-employed building contractor who was brought on board to plan and develop the en-suite bedrooms for LS-Live’s ‘Hotel’ on the top floor of the building. He hasn’t left since. He ended up project managing the development of three new floors at the facility from 2009-2011, including South Kirkby’s first ever lift install! He also worked on the M-Sport project in the studio, doing the fit out and supervising the electrics installation. 

SKILLS: Man management, building, efficiency, set construction, streamlining operations. 

INVOLVEMENT IN YOUR PROJECT: Once the hire department or set construction division receives an order, it’s Pablo’s job to manage the operation, ensuring it’s delivered on spec, in budget and on time for the client, and also overseeing the return of goods to the hire warehouse. 

PERSONAL INTERESTS: Golf (improving at golf!) and music.

DISLIKES: Watching TV – it’s a conversation killer.

IF HE COULD BE IN ANY BAND: Girls Aloud!

IF HE COULD HAVE A SUPERPOWER: A superfast travel machine.

NAME: ADAM ‘BULLET’ BETTLEY

JOB TITLE: PROJECT SUPPORT

BIOG: Bullet gained a BA HONS in Music Technology and Sound Recording Techniques at Huddersfield University. He joined LS-Live (then Litestructures) in 2006 and worked mainly in the hire department, preparing jobs and rigging stages around the world. In his spare time he spent many hours helping out in the studio gaining experience of all the aspects of productions and their requirements in the studio, which then led him to become the Studio Co-Ordinator/Project Support.

SKILLS: Project management, team leader, product knowledge.

INVOLVEMENT IN YOUR PROJECT: Bullet will be your main point of contact during your time at the LS-Live Studio. He will deal with everything from booking you in, drawing up the contracts, supplying all the local crew, riggers, runners and mini-buses, as well as advising and assisting in the provision of staging equipment from our huge on-site hire stock.  

PERSONAL INTERESTS: Movies, music, games, socialising, holidays and, of course, looking after Baby Pellet.

DISLIKES: Fish.

IF YOU COULD BE IN ANY BAND: Prodigy.

IF YOU COULD HAVE A SUPERPOWER: Stop time!

NAME: JESS WOODWARD

JOB TITLE: HIRE CO-ORDINATOR

BIOG:  Jess joined LS-Live (then Litestructures) straight after leaving high school in 2003 as a stepping stone job until she joined the forces, after two years (yes still here!) she then moved across to the events side of the business where she learned her strength of lifting decks! She then became Hire Co-ordinator in 2007 and today works closely alongside Ben Brooks.

SKILLS:  Working to tight deadlines, product knowledge, organising crew and equipment, moaning, putting up with Ben.

INVOLVEMENT IN YOUR PROJECT: Jess will liaise with clients from the beginning by getting to know their needs, she will make sure all relevant equipment is available for the project from standard product to custom designs. Jess will also make sure all the appropriate transport, hotels, equipment etc., is in order for crew and clients.

PERSONAL INTERESTS: Live music, watching motorbike racing, riding her motorbike (only when sunny!), beer festivals, Sailor Jerry Rum, camping in the rain and watching people fall over.

NAME: GARETH MALLON

JOB TITLE: DESIGNER

BIOG: Gareth studied product design at Leeds Met and went on to join LS-Live (then Litestructures) in 2002, working mainly on design for stage sets and custom projects. He took up the offer to jump across to LS-Live in 2010 when Litestructures was sold to Prolyte.

SKILLS: Creative / engineering design, project management, product knowledge, working to industry parameters, visualizing and basic animation.

INVOLVEMENT IN YOUR PROJECT: Gareth may be involved in face-to-face meetings with the client at the earliest stages, producing visualisations for client comment / sign off. He will later produce working drawings in line with your brief before the design is manufactured. He will also assist in managing the timescales of projects.

PERSONAL INTERESTS: Rock music, live rock music, reading about rock music, attempting to play rock music…there’s a theme developing here. Also cheese tasting, attempting to make his own cheese…

NAME: RACHEL ESSON

JOB TITLE: PR & MARKETING MANAGER

BIOG: Rachel studied a Journalism Masters at The University of Sheffield and spent five years at a publishing company editing trade magazines for both the late night entertainment industry and the live events production industry. She also built a portfolio doing freelance journalism and PR for businesses.

It was whilst editing live event production trade title TPi Magazine that she grew close to LS-Live as a client and seized an opportunity with the company to take a side-step into PR & Marketing. Rachel is responsible for shaping the LS-Live brand, communicating what we do through the media, events and face-to-face meetings, and building relationships with new and existing clients, from her base in London. She also carries out this role for Backstage Academy.

SKILLS: Writing, editing, interviewing, marketing, basic SLR photography, creative design, project management, driving up and down the M1.

INVOLVEMENT IN YOUR PROJECT: Rachel is likely to request permission to photograph your production or set design, and speak to you about the project in order for us to publicise the work that we do. She will also develop and manage new partnerships, campaigns and special projects with clients.

PERSONAL INTERESTS: Happiest being up a mountain on a snowboard, or camping in a field at a festival. She also likes tennis, keeping fit at the gym, writing, photography and watching British drama / psychological thriller films. She invites anyone to come up with a ginger joke that she hasn’t already heard.

DISLIKES: People who take life too seriously, slow drivers and jaffa cakes. 

IF SHE COULD BE IN ANY BAND: Kasabian or Take That just to perform on their set!

IF SHE COULD HAVE ANY SUPERPOWER: To eat and never get full or fat.

NAME: JACQUI BROOKS

JOB TITLE:  PAYROLL AND H&S MANAGER

BIOG: Whilst studying a Bsc Honours degree in Home Economics at Manchester University, Jacqui met Adrian Brooks, a fellow student. They married in 1979 and set up their first business together in 1980. Over the next seven years they had three children, Lee, Ria and Ben. Jacqui returned to work as a lecturer in 1989 and then became a founder member of Litestructures (GB) Ltd in 1991.Over the years Jacqui has worked in almost every department in the business.

SKILLS:  Organisation, people management, Health & Safety, customer service, account management, forward-planning, and chief biscuit and tea provider!

INVOLVEMENT IN YOUR PROJECT: Jacqui deals with credit control and is therefore likely to request payment! She is also the one to ask for VAT invoices.

PERSONAL INTERESTS: Jacqui enjoys her home life and is probably at her happiest pottering around her garden. Travel, swimming and entertaining are also top of her agenda. 

NAME: CHRISTINE DAVISON

JOB TITLE: MANAGEMENT ACCOUNTANT

BIOG: Christine studied Business Studies at Sheffield Hallam University, during which time she did a one year placement at Litestructures. She returned to the company in 2006 full-time and when the hire side of the business re-branded to LS-Live, she moved with it and took up a management position.

SKILLS: Number crunching!

INVOLVEMENT IN YOUR PROJECT: Christine will be working behind the scenes placing orders with suppliers to ensure products are delivered on time and on budget.

PERSONAL INTERESTS: Snowboarding, films, gigs, McFly, and drinking Starbucks coffee whilst watching the world go by!

NAME: AMANDA MERRYWEATHER

JOB TITLE: OFFICE ADMINISTRATOR

BIOG: Amanda left college in 2007 after studying a variety of A-Level subjects and started work in August 2011. After four years she fancied a change and started work at LS-Live a month ago.

SKILLS: Organisation, time-keeping, customer service, various office duties.

INVOLVEMENT IN YOUR PROJECT: Amanda may assist Jess in providing a quote for your project. She also carries out various office duties for both LS-Live Hire and Studio, and Backstage Academy.

PERSONAL INTERESTS: Swimming, baking, watching live gigs (local ones are the best!) eating and going to the pub!

NAME: BILLY ANGEL

JOB TITLE: STUDIO CO-ORDINATOR

BIOG: Billy is one of our longest serving members of staff, having joined the company in 1996. He has formed relationships with many artists and their production crew over the years as Studio Co-Ordinator. Prior to working at LS-Live he had a 30-year career as a machinery engineer and started off with the company in the machine shop. 

SKILLS: Fitter, machinist, DIY and handiwork guru, people skills, organisation and a great sense of humour. 

INVOLVEMENT IN YOUR PROJECT: Billy is on hand to serve studio clients with anything they need, and often works the night shifts.

PERSONAL INTERESTS: Music, rugby, cricket, family (married 38 years, two kids and two grandchildren).

DISLIKES: Anything with an engine! Especially forklifts…

IF HE COULD BE IN ANY BAND: Crosby, Stills and Nash.

IF HE COULD HAVE A SUPERPOWER: Healing people.

NAME: PAUL MILLS

JOB TITLE: WAREHOUSE SUPERVISOR

BIOG: Paul started in the warehouse in 2007, coming from Arla Foods, and worked his way up to Supervisor two years later. 

SKILLS: Set construction, building, stock control, looking after Lol!

INVOLVEMENT IN YOUR PROJECT: Paul will ensure all jobs that go through the hire warehouse are managed effectively by seeing through equipment prepping, pre-assembly, load out and in, and set construction. 

PERSONAL INTERESTS: Fishing, rugby league, football, horse racing and riding, member of the Elite Racing Club in Surrey, 33 year marriage and four grandchildren.

DISLIKES: Arrogant and ignorant people. 

IF HE COULD BE IN ANY BAND: Coldplay.

IF HE COULD HAVE A SUPERPOWER: Popeye strength!

NAME: LAWRENCE ‘LOL’ WOODWARD

JOB TITLE: SET BUILDER & FABRICATOR

BIOG: With two decades experience of working in the rail industry, Lol joined the company several years before the studio was built, taking up the position of manager in the former Litestructures manufacturing facility. He worked there for seven years and re-joined the business in 2010, pursuing a career in the LS-Live warehouse in the set building and fabrication department. 

SKILLS: Set building, fabricating, welding.

INVOLVEMENT IN YOUR PROJECT: Lol will be at the heart of set design projects, engineering your designs to perfection. He will also be on hand to make any last minute adjustments to sets in the rehearsal studio.

PERSONAL INTERESTS: Motorbikes (riding), car racing (spectating), socialising and dating millionaires!

DISLIKES: Lying and liars.

IF HE COULD BE IN ANY BAND: AC/DC.

IF HE COULD HAVE A SUPERPOWER: Be able to fly. 

NAME: ANDREW ‘BRIGGA’ BRIGGS

JOB TITLE: SET CARPENTER / DRUM TECH

BIOG: Prior to joining LS-Live in November 2010, Brigga had a successful career as a professional drummer, with three record deals, two albums and live sessions for Radio One at Maida Vale Studios. He played with his band Milloy for 11 years and once played drums for Courtney Love in the band which eventually became The Cribs. Since joining LS-Live, Brigga has worked on the set for Peter Andre, Wretch 32, and has been out on tour with Tinie Tempah after we designed the stage set for his first tour. 

SKILLS: Drumming, backline teching, keeping up team moral, optimism, problem-solving.  

INVOLVEMENT IN YOUR PROJECT: Brigga will help develop concepts for staging and sets, and assist with the build in the studio. He is also on hand as a backline technician. 

PERSONAL INTERESTS: Motorcross, cats, hedgehog, his girlfriend, drinking, playing drums, music, touring, festivals. 

DISLIKES: Wind and rain as it ruins everything! 

IF HE COULD BE IN ANY BAND: Foo Fighters.

IF HE COULD HAVE A SUPERPOWER: Supertail! 

NAME: MARK TUCKNOTT

JOB TITLE: FINANCE DIRECTOR

BIOG: Mark went to Nottingham University in 2000 and joined Deloitte's Nottingham office as a graduate where he worked in the Audit department for three years, qualifying as a chartered accountant. He returned 'home' to Yorkshire in 2006 where he transferred to Deloitte's Corporate Finance team in Leeds, specialising in advising companies and their lenders on how to improve the financial performance of their  businesses. During this time he became a qualified Insolvency Practitioner in 2009 and spent 12 months on secondment to Barclays in 2010, before joining LS-Live in his current role in October 2011.

SKILLS: Number crunching, commercial negotiations.

INVOLVEMENT IN YOUR PROJECT: Whilst Mark may not be involved in the day-to-day operation of your project, it is likely that he will be at work behind the scenes helping to prepare / review budgets and sometimes negotiating with suppliers to ensure the smooth running of your project.

PERSONAL INTERESTS: Playing / watching football, mountain biking, golf (to a very poor standard), and any other sport really, live music, eating out and spending time with friends / family.

DISLIKES: Being told it is time to go home from the pub by his wife, going go-karting with any member of the Brooks family (as this usually results in him being lapped continuously and taking home the unwanted title of world's slowest driver).

IF HE COULD BE IN ANY BAND: A toss up between Gaslight Anthem and Kasabian.

IF HE COULD HAVE A SUPERPOWER: Time travel.

NAME: MARK JACKSON

JOB TITLE: DEVELOPMENT ENGINEER

BIOG: Mark Jackson is one of the industry's finest electronics engineers. He started off in this role before launching his own lighting hire company, servicing heavy metal bands and worldwide tours. In the early '90s the recession caused him to diversify into staging as well as lighting and he soon spotted a gap in the market for lightweight aluminium stage decking. He approached Litestructures with his ideas and became instrumental in their subsequent development of LiteDeck. Soon after Boyzone debuted LiteDeck on tour in '96, Mark joined Litestructures and launched the hire department now known as LS-Live. 

SKILLS: Electronic engineering, design, lighting technician, hydraulic engineering, product development.

INVOLVEMENT IN YOUR PROJECT: Mark now works predominantly on special projects, such as designing the famous Scissor Sisters 'legs' set, the telemetry pods for Formula One and the extensive LED installation at Karak Castle in Jordan.

PERSONAL INTERESTS: Fishing, steam trains. 

DISLIKES: Short lead times on projects in the touring industry!

IF HE COULD BE IN ANY BAND: The Who.