James Oakley

James has worked in and around theatre and live events for over 20 years, starting (as many do) with attempting to tread the boards before finding his happy place behind the scenes. He spent a number of years freelancing and travelling the world before landing his first Company Stage Management position at the Watford Palace Theatre. After a number of very happy years James then had the great fortune to join the team at the Southbank Centre, the UK's largest Arts Centre as a Production Manager, delivering some of the most diverse cultural events and experiences in London and the UK. From there, James was lucky enough to join an extraordinary company and team in the shape of Underbelly Ltd, a festival and live events production company with it's early history in Edinburgh Fringe festival, but becoming one of the UK's premier live event and festival producers. Some of his highlights with the Edinburgh Fringe festival were a remounting of the juke box musical, "Five Guys Named Moe" in the London West End's newest (temporary) theatre, The Marble Arch Theatre.

James was also part of the team that over a number of years delivered West End Live, London Pride, Edinburgh Christmas and Hogmanay Street Party, to name a few. James is now very happy have the amazing opportunity to work for a company he has admired for a very long time in the shape of Charcoalblue, whilst sitting at the forefront of experiential design and delivery as part of the CBX team.