Elizabeth Newman has been appointed as Sheffield Theatres’ Artistic Director, taking over from Robert Hastie’s tenure in the role. Joining the Sheffield Theatres directorial team from December, Newman has called her new position “a dream come true” ahead of her arrival later this year. Her first season as Artistic Director will be from autumn 2025.
In an announcement earlier today, Sheffield Theatres said: “We are excited to announce Sheffield Theatres’ new Artistic Director […] Elizabeth Newman joins the Executive Team from December 2024 and succeeds current Artistic Director Robert Hastie, who leaves the organisation this summer”. Speaking to her appointment, Newman said she has “long admired the incredible work being done at these amazing theatres […] [her] love for this vibrant city, rich with art, music, and a community of brilliant individuals, makes this opportunity even more special”.
This isn’t Elizabeth’s first position as Artistic Director, a role which she has held at Pitlochry Festival Theatre in Highland Perthshire since 2018. She has directed over one hundred productions across the country, including many aimed at young and children’s audiences. She was the winner of Best Director in The Critic’s Awards for Theatre in Scotland for her production Faith Healer and has also produced Footloose and Beautiful: The Carole King Musical. Prior to this, she has also been the Artistic Director of Octagon Theatre Bolton, Artistic Director of Shared Property Theatre Company and Acting Artistic Director of London’s Southwark Playhouse.
Sheffield Theatres’ Chief Executive Tom Bird has said he is “overjoyed” at the appointment: “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”.
A theatre’s Artistic Director is the person ultimately charged with the creative vision of the art space and the productions it chooses to produce or host. They often direct some original productions themselves and invite other directorial teams in. Their role is crucial in shaping the direction the theatre(s) choose to go in with their programming, in order to bring in audiences, foster new talent and provide cultural enrichment to their local communities.
Whilst this is a tall order, Elizabeth Newman’s appointment is set to begin a new era in Sheffield Theatres’ history, breathing new life into their programmes. Whilst we must wait until next year for her programming season to begin, the appointment has been widely celebrated and will continue and evolve the work of outgoing Artistic Director Robert Hastie into the future.
Elizabeth Newman will join the Sheffield Theatres Executive Team from December 2024 and will begin her first season from Autumn 2025
