Today (26 July 2011), Michael Attenborough, Artistic Director of The Almeida Theatre, announces Julia Potts is to be his new Executive Director.
Potts, who most recently has been running the
Churchill Theatre Bromley, acting as their General Manager, will join the Almeida to take up the position of Executive Director in November. Concurrently she has been Head of Creative Learning & Access for the Ambassador Theatre Group across all of their 39 venues, a post she has held for the last eight years. She was also a Clore Fellow (06-07) on the Clore Leadership Programme. In a freelance capacity she has worked for
Bill Kenwright Limited, the Society of London Theatres, the Really Useful Group,
Sonia Friedman Productions and The
Bush Theatre. For the London Borough of Bromley she was a Consultant on Arts Report commissioned by the Borough. She is Chair of the Board of Trustees of Magpie Dance - an inclusive dance company for people with and without learning disabilities and an active member of the voluntary Board of Directors of Action for Children's Arts.
Michael Attenborough said: "Julia's energy, intelligence and fine judgement, allied to the unqualified praise she has received from all who have worked with her, make it clear that we have secured a person of outstanding calibre to become our new Executive Director."
Julia Potts said: "I am delighted to be joining Michael and the team at the Almeida, whose passion for their unique theatre is infectious and inspiring. To be invited to join them and help play a part in shaping the theatre's future is hugely exciting. At the same time, it is with some sadness that I leave the Ambassador Theatre Group, which has been a wonderful home to me for many years; I shall miss my colleagues there enormously and wish them all every success for the future."
The Almeida TheatreThe Almeida Theatre is a 325 seat theatre in the heart of Islington, North London, producing a diverse range of British and foreign drama with some of the world's best artists, and developing a reputation as a local theatre with an international profile.
Under the Artistic Directorship of
Michael Attenborough, the heart of the Almeida's artistic vision is the presentation of bold and adventurous play choices staged to the highest possible standards, in productions which reveal them in a new light including classics from the British, American and Irish repertoire, foreign classics in newly commissioned versions, and new plays.
