Join us for our monthly Ely Networking series where local professionals and businesses come together to connect, collaborate and grow.
Guest Speaker
You will hear a presentation from Daniel Schumann MBE DL, Founder, Viva Theatre.
Daniel will give an introduction to Viva Theatre and then dive into the topic of Arts and Regeneration and Economic Development.
Daniel Schumann MBE DL is an entrepreneur, theatre producer, charity founder and civic leader with more than 30 years’ experience of building organisations, raising investment, developing partnerships and delivering ambitious projects.
Daniel is the Founder and Chairman of Trustees of Viva Arts and Community Group, a Queen’s Award-winning arts charity which he established in 1997. Over the past three decades, he has raised more than £5 million to support Viva’s work, including the fundraising and development of its own purpose-built theatre – East Cambridgeshire’s only purpose-built theatre. Under his leadership, Viva has grown into a major community arts organisation, creating opportunities for thousands of people to engage with the arts.
Alongside his work in the arts, Daniel has extensive experience in public service and governance. He is one of His Majesty’s Deputy Lieutenants for Cambridgeshire and has served as Vice Chairman of East Cambridgeshire District Council and a County Councillor, and is currently Independent Chairman of the Audit Committee for Peterborough City Council. In 2005, he became the youngest ever magistrate appointed to the Cambridge Bench, serving for seven years. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, a full member of the Chartered Institute of Fundraising and was recognised in 2008 in Who’s Who of Britain’s Business Elite.
Daniel’s contribution to the arts and his community has been recognised through a number of honour and in 2025, he was awarded an MBE for his lifetime commitment to establishing and developing Viva Arts in Soham.
Alongside his charitable and civic work, Daniel has built a highly successful international career as a theatre producer spanning more than 20 years. He has produced more than 80 productions in London, across the UK, on Broadway and internationally, working with some of the leading names in British theatre.
In 2012, Daniel received the prestigious Society of London Theatre New Producer Bursary, which enabled him to commission a stage adaptation of the hit film Ladies in Lavender. The production toured the UK starring Hayley Mills and went on to win four BroadwayWorld Awards. His subsequent producing credits include James Graham’s Quiz in the West End, Hamlet and Oresteia in New York, Bully Boy starring Anthony Andrews, and numerous major UK tours.
More recent productions include By Royal Appointment, starring Anne Reid CBE and Caroline Quentin; Little Women, starring Belinda Lang; Philippa Gregory’s Richard, My Richard; Ian Rankin’s Rebus productions; 84 Charing Cross Road, starring Stefanie Powers; and productions of Duet for One, Hamlet and Oresteia. He has also recently opened Oliver! for Cameron Mackintosh at Chichester Festival Theatre.
As a producer for Bill Kenwright, Daniel worked across major West End and national productions including Blood Brothers, Dreamboats and Petticoats, Cabaret, Fame and The Sound of Music. As a producer for The Almeida Theatre, he was involved in critically acclaimed productions including the Olivier Award-winning Oresteia, Bakkhai starring Ben Whishaw, King Charles III, Hamlet starring Andrew Scott and James Graham’s Ink.
Daniel brings together a rare combination of entrepreneurial thinking, creative leadership, fundraising expertise, public service and commercial producing. His career has been built on turning ambitious ideas into reality – from raising millions of pounds to build a theatre in a small Cambridgeshire community, to producing major productions for international audiences.
Sponsor
Thank you to Grovemere Property for sponsoring our Ely Networking series.
Location
Poets House
40 St Mary's St
Ely
CB7 4EY