Elizabeth Newman has been confirmed as the next artistic director at Sheffield Theatres - the Crucible, Playhouse and Lyceum.
She joins chief executive Tom Bird and deputy chief executive Bookey Oshin in the Sheffield Theatres' executive team from December, succeeding current artistic director Robert Hastie who is leaving the organisation this summer. Elizabeth’s first season will be from next autumn.
The former Bolton Octagon artistic director joins the Crucible from the Pitlochry Festival Theatre, where she has been artistic director since 2018. Prior to Pitlochry, Newman was in charge at Bolton, then at Shared Property Theatre Company and was acting artistic director at London’s Southwark Playhouse.
Elizabeth has directed over a hundred productions all over the UK and alongside work as a theatre director and designer has written numerous adaptations for the stage.
The former Bolton Woman of the Year and holder of an honorary doctorate from the University of Bolton said: “I have long admired the incredible work being done at Sheffield's amazing theatres. It is an immense honour to be entrusted to lead their next artistic chapter.
Sheffield is a cultural hub where creativity thrives and flourishes, and I'm eager to contribute to the dynamic arts scene here.”
Chief executive Tom Bird said: "Elizabeth moves from Scotland to South Yorkshire with a superb reputation for making big-hearted theatre that has electrified audiences around the country. She cares deeply for the communities in which she works and has a resolute focus on how theatres can serve and enthral their audiences."
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