Lorna attended classes and performed at The Old Court as a child, when it was Windsor Arts Centre, and so has a long-standing connection with the venue. She made her professional stage debut at the age of fourteen and went on to train at Laine Theatre Arts and The Guildhall School of Music and Drama. As a performer, director and choreographer, she has enjoyed a range of roles spanning Shakespeare, contemporary plays and Sondheim. When she had her children, Lorna led Drama Departments locally and was a Reader and Director for The Kenneth Branagh New Writing Competition, as well as being a Senior UK and International Drama Examiner for several years.
When her children were older, she revitalised her love of theatre achieving an MA in Directing at Royal Holloway and studying Culture, Policy and Management at City University, leading to the next stage if her career in management at leading Drama Schools. She taught Acting, at Arts Ed on the BA MT and Acting courses, where she was a Resident Director and the Head of The Post Diploma BA (hons) in Performance Studies, as well as Course Director for their partnership with Shanghai Media Group Live. At Italia Conti she was Head of Acting and Head of Studies, being central to the writing, implementation and management of the prestigious new BA (hons) in Musical Theatre. Her work also included being a member of Audition Panels at many of the major drama schools and directing professional showcases, contemporary plays and musicals, where she has facilitated 3rd year students in achieving agent representation.
She went on to be Vice Principal at the award winning Identity School of Acting, leading the management of the organisation, including Stockwell Playhouse and nurturing a diverse cohort of actors and teachers to professional acclaim, developing partnerships with Netflix, BAFTA and Audible to support students, particularly from underrepresented communities, who otherwise would not be able to train professionally.
Having enjoyed a career in the industry, Lorna has recently semi-retired, returning to her roots, nurturing the next generation of actors, public speakers and writers, via her company Inspiration to The Word. She is loving working close to her Windsor home inspiring young people and adults in the written and spoken word, as well as being a Director of the Old Court.
Mark is an RBWM Councillor for "Eton and Castle" and Cabinet Member. He has responsiblity for finance.
Martin ran the venue as sole Director for eight years, and is on the Executive Committee of Windsor Festival
Jack is an RBWM Councillor for "St Mary's" in Maidenhead, and is Trustee and Manager at Maidenhead Community Centre since 2017. He has responsiblity for facilities and IT.
Will is a founder and Director of Windsor & Eton Brewery. He has responsiblity for the bar.
Bar and Technical Manager
Marketing
The foundation stone for the building is recorded as being laid by Prince Christian in August 1905. Originally a complex, civic building housing Windsor’s police station, magistrates’ court and fire station, construction was completed in 1907 with the combined facility remaining in operation until 1966. The building lay empty for several years once decommissioned (making it the perfect place to film a few episodes of the crime-action-drama ‘The Professionals’).
The Old Court then became the home of Windsor Community Arts Centre (WAC) in 1981, following five years’ campaigning. Diverse local groups – Windsor Folk Club, Windsor Fringe, Windsor Theatre Guild, amongst others – and many individuals joined forces to achieve this goal. They built a wide membership, lobbied the council and won Arts Council support, all whilst producing an innovative arts magazine and running a programme of events in every conceivable venue in the town.
Finally, an innovative deal was accomplished between WAC, the Council and Speyhawk property company. WAC hosted an extensive range of the arts – from exhibitions to community plays, from classical concerts to Rock Nights – promoting local talent and enthusiasms as well as bringing big names to Windsor like George Melly, Alan Price, Sidney Nolan, Roger McGough, Wendy Cope, Lenny Henry, Yevtushenko and Allen Ginsberg.
WAC’s success was due to its belief in arts in the community and involvement of volunteers in all areas of the organisation. A financial crisis closed it in 2007 but popular pressure demanded its revival, and in 2008 the Council awarded the franchise to Firestation Arts.
In 2017 the franchise to run The Old Court was awarded to Martin Denny Management Ltd, returning to the original name and with the objective of continuinig to provide Windsor with a community arts centre.
In September 2025 The Old Court C.I.C. has an expanded Board of Directors, which includes Martin Denny, Lorna Pearson-Hall, Jack Douglas, Mark Wilson and Will Calvert. The Board’s objective is to build on the firm foundations built by Martin Denny Management over the past 8 years and capitalise on the fabulous opportunities that the space offers to our local communities to build a sustainable future for this much-loved venue.
