Elizabeth Newman, outgoing Artistic Director of Pitlochry Festival Theatre and formerly of Octagon Theatre Bolton, will take over as Artistic Director of Sheffield Theatres, which comprises three venues: the Crucible, the Playhouse and the Lyceum.
It was announced earlier this month that Newman would leave Pitlochry in November after six years "to take up a new leadership role". She will take over at Sheffield from current Artistic Director Robert Hastie, who leaves this summer, in December, and programme her first season in autumn 2025.
She said, “collaborating with Tom Bird, Bookey Oshin, and the entire talented team in Sheffield is a dream come true, as I have long admired the incredible work being done at these amazing theatres. It is an immense honour to be entrusted to artistically lead the next chapter of this extraordinary organisation. My love for this vibrant city, rich with art, music, and a community of brilliant individuals, makes this opportunity even more special.”
Sheffield Chief Executive Tom Bird added, "I’m overjoyed to welcome Elizabeth to Sheffield Theatres. She moves from Scotland to South Yorkshire with a superb reputation for making big-hearted theatre work that has electrified audiences around the country. Elizabeth cares deeply for the communities in which she works and has a resolute focus on how theatres can serve and enthral their audiences. She is an inspirational leader who will write a new chapter in the extraordinary story of this city, while ensuring that Sheffield Theatres continues to be a byword for exceptional theatrical quality and fearless ambition."