Foley, Sharma and Thomas chosen to lead Birmingham REP

Published: 21 March 2019
Reporter: Steve Orme

Sean Foley Credit: Hugo Glendinning
Amit Sharma Credit: Jon Craig
Rachael Thomas Credit: Robert Day

One of the few people to have received Olivier nominations as an actor, writer and director, Sean Foley has been appointed the new artistic director of Birmingham REP.

Co-founder of theatre company The Right Size, Foley is a double Olivier Award winner for co-writing and appearing in The Play What I Wrote.

He said of his appointment, “Birmingham REP’s history as one of the most important theatres in the country is inspiring. Birmingham itself has always had an exceptional level of creativity and innovation, and has a unique and world-class cultural ecology.

“I’m tremendously honoured to be invited to contribute to that, and to have been appointed artistic director at this ground-breaking theatre.

“I’m British but also half Irish, half Brummie, and I’m excited to be returning to work in the city having grown up in its suburbs.

“I hope to fill the theatre with stories that engage all its communities and audiences while connecting with the wider world. The ambition is to create a national home for truly popular theatre.”

Amit Sharma will be deputy artistic director. He has been associate director of Graeae Theatre Company since 2011 and associate artistic director at the Royal Exchange, Manchester from 2017 until 2019.

He said, "I’m absolutely thrilled to be joining Birmingham REP. I know what a wonderful theatre it is having performed on its main stage, directed a show which was programmed in The Door and worked with the arts team developing new talent.

“I’ve had such an amazing time with Graeae who will always be part of my life, but the opportunity to join the remarkable team in Birmingham fills me with such excitement that I can't wait to get started on the next chapter in the REP's illustrious history.”

Rachael Thomas will be the new executive director. She held a similar role at Derby Theatre. She has had a 25-year career in the cultural sector including being head of finance and business development at Nottingham Playhouse for 10 years and director of Phoenix Arts, Leicester.

She said, “with Sean and Amit I share a vision for the REP to play a bold and distinctive role in the life of the city as a theatre that’s firmly grounded in and relevant to all its local communities but with a national and international outlook.”

Angela Maxwell, chair of the board at the REP, added, “Sean, Amit and Rachael are an exciting combination and in them we’ve found a dream team with a passion for theatre, commitment to excellence and an ambition to raise the profile and impact of the REP for the future.”

Foley, Sharma and Thomas will take up their posts in spring and summer 2019, with their first season of work starting in 2020.

They take over from Roxana Silbert, artistic director of Birmingham REP for the past six years who will leave in June 2019 to take up a similar position at London’s Hampstead Theatre, and executive director Stuart Rogers.

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