Dr Fiona Francombe

Member since 2019

Fiona Francombe is the Principal and CEO of Bristol Old Vic Theatre School.
Prior to that she was the Site Director of The Bottle Yard Studios, an established base for film and TV production in South Bristol. She managed the seven-acre film and television facility (owned by Bristol City Council) since it opened in 2010.

Fiona started her career working in theatre, including the Manchester Royal Exchange and the Royal Shakespeare Company, before moving into television in 1990 when she joined the BBC’s Drama department in London. Three years later she relocated to Bristol and worked for more than 14 years as a Location Manager and Line Producer for TV drama, before going on to manage Production Liaison for South West Screen and Creative England.

Fiona was one of the Mayor of Bristol’s Channel 4 working group that was instrumental in Bristol winning the bid to become a Channel 4 creative hub. She also contributed extensively to Bristol achieving UNESCO City of Film status and, until January 2021, was a member of the Royal Television Society West Committee. She was awarded an Honorary Doctorate by the University of the West of England in July 2019 for her services to film and television. Fiona is a Trustee for the Cathedral Schools Trust and a Member of the Venturers Trust.