New Theatre Royal in Portsmouth has this week announced the appointment of Judith Smyth as its new Chairperson.
A Portsmouth resident for over 40 years and a keen supporter of the arts, Judith is a management consultant with the public and voluntary sector and has plenty of governance experience having sat on the board for First Wessex Housing Association and Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust.
Speaking about her new role, Judith comments: “I feel very privileged to be starting off as Chair now when we will have such a fantastic building opening soon and an exciting programme of events ahead of us.”
“I am very much looking forward to working with our supporters, volunteers and staff to make New Theatre Royal a major centre of excellence for arts and performance in Portsmouth that can be enjoyed by everyone in the community. This will be highlighted with the forthcoming opening of The Minghella, an exciting new studio space that will nurture and develop local artistic talent.”
Judith will take over from Josh Brown who has been Chairman at the theatre for the last five years and has been on the board since 2002. Josh has been heavily involved in the theatre’s restoration project, which has seen them raise over £4m to return the theatre back to its former glory. “It has been an ambition to restore the theatre for over 40 years since it suffered fire damage in 1972,” comments Josh. “To have raised the money in the midst of a double dip recession and drastic public spending cuts is a huge achievement that I feel very proud to have been a part of.”
“It is through the outstanding skill of the board of trustees and a dedicated staff that we are able to not only restore a piece of heritage but also continue our work in education and with communities across the region.”
Of Judith’s appointment as Chairperson, Josh comments, “I have known Judith for a long time and know her to be highly skilled and a very competent person. It’s comforting to know that New Theatre Royal is in safe hands and I have every confidence that Judith is the right person to take the theatre into its next chapter.”
Caroline Sharman, CEO of New Theatre Royal, comments: “We would all like to say a huge thank you to Josh for his tireless work as Chair and for steering the theatre on this incredible journey which will result in a fabulous new stage house and an invigorating new partnership with University of Portsmouth. There are exciting times ahead for us and we now look forward to working with Judith whose wonderful new energy will drive us forward into the new building and onwards.”
The theatre is scheduled to reopen The Minghella in Summer 2015 and the Main House in September 2015, with a dynamic range of world-class professional drama, dance, music, circus and comedy performances and events.
Funding for the project has come from both the private and public sectors, including the Partnership for Urban South Hampshire (PUSH), Portsmouth City Council, University of Portsmouth, Parity Trust, Heritage Lottery Fund and Arts Council England. Trusts and foundations include Garfield Weston Foundation, Monument Trust, Bernard Sunley Charitable Foundation, The Wolfson Foundation and Foyle Foundation.
For those wishing to support the theatre there are plenty of opportunities to become a friend or donate money to help with the final restoration work. Please visit www.ntr.tic.dev.uk for more information.