Former West Midlands Mayor Andy Street CBE has been appointed the new chair of the board at Birmingham Rep.
Street, who served as Mayor from 2017 to 2024, “has always been a vocal advocate for arts and culture in the city, regularly citing its critical role as the lifeblood of Birmingham and the means by which the city’s story is told”.
He said, “it’s a huge honour to be asked to chair one of my home city’s great cultural institutions and one that I am personally a huge believer in. Arts and culture are mission critical to the success and the story of Birmingham and the Rep is right at the heart of that.
“While the theatre has a strong reputation locally, I believe we could be doing much more nationally and perhaps indeed internationally. Working with chief executive Rachael Thomas, her team and the rest of the board, I intend to help make the Rep the best regional theatre in Europe.”
Thomas added, “Andy’s passion for Birmingham and culture is well known. He lives in the city and as Mayor was a tireless advocate for the cultural sector, recognising the benefits a vibrant sector brings to the region.
“Over the years he’s also been a regular visitor to the Rep and knows our work well, seeing work across all three of our stages—from large-scale theatre productions in The House to one-man shows in The Door.
“Together with the whole team here, I look forward to working with Andy to ensure the Rep continues to be recognised as one of the most dynamic and exciting producing theatres in the country.”
Street formally takes up his role on Friday 1 November. The Rep will shortly appoint a new artistic director to replace Sean Foley, who has stepped down after five years in the job.