Midlands-based independent theatre studio China Plate has appointed its first executive director, Chloe Courtney, while Sarah Preece is to take over as chair of the board.
Courtney will join the leadership team of co-artistic directors Ed Collier and Paul Warwick. Collier said, “Paul and I are absolutely delighted to be welcoming Sarah and Chloe into China Plate. The last couple of years have been challenging for the sector and enhancing the leadership of China Plate with Sarah and Chloe gives us the best possible start to 2022.
“We’d like to thank outgoing chair Phyllida Hancock for her time, thoughtfulness, diligence, humour and overall brilliance over the past four years.”
Courtney, who has been the health and science producer at Contact in Manchester, has created work focused on autobiographical health stories, the ways we can make the arts sector a more caring and accessible place and the connection between arts and wellbeing.
Courtney said, “I’m so excited to be joining the team at China Plate. I’ve been following the company for more than a decade. A lot of my work so far has focused on how we can create caring and supportive arts environments that help producers, artists, and all the people we work with to thrive. I’m looking forward to taking this further with China Plate.
“As someone who first started producing after taking part in a young producers’ course at Battersea Arts Centre, I’m thrilled to be working with a company who are committed to supporting new producers in the West Midlands and across the UK."
Courtney will join the company in March while Preece will take over as chair in May.