Director and Producer Jonathan Church Appointed First Chair of Marlowe Theatre Trust

One of the country's top theatre directors and producers has been named as the first Chair of The Marlowe Theatre Trust.

Jonathan Church CBE held the position of Artistic Director and Joint Chief Executive at Chichester Festival Theatre, and Artistic Director at Birmingham Repertory Theatre and Salisbury Playhouse, and is credited with transforming their fortunes. His award-winning successes include West End transfers from Chichester of Gypsy, ENRON, Sweeney Todd and The Young Chekhov Trilogy.

He currently runs his own Production Company, Jonathan Church Productions, which was formed in association with Delfont Mackintosh Theatres. He is also Artistic Director for the Theatre Royal Bath's Summer Season, and is on the board of the Almeida Theatre, London, and the National Youth Music Theatre.

While the new Marlowe was being built (2009-2011), Jonathan was a visiting professor for Canterbury Christ Church University, and a board member and Chair of the Performing Arts Sub-Committee for the Creative Foundation in Folkestone.

Jonathan (50) said: "The rebuilding and revitalisation of the new Marlowe Theatre is one of the great regional arts success stories of the last decade.

"The combination of enlightened investment by Canterbury City Council, the hard work and commitment of the theatre staff and the passionate engagement of audiences has created a unique environment for future growth and success.

"I'm extremely honoured to be working with the theatre in this new role at such an exciting moment for the organisation."

A final decision about the transfer of The Marlowe's governance will be made at a meeting of the full council on 4 January 2018. If the decision is to proceed, Jonathan and his shadow board will oversee the transfer of the theatre to a charitable trust in the spring or summer of 2018.

Paula Gillespie, Acting Director of The Marlowe, said: "This is an inspired appointment: Jonathan's theatre credentials and theatre wisdom are second to none.

"We are thrilled to be entering this new phase of The Marlowe's evolution with Jonathan at the helm, helping us to fulfill our ambitious vision of The Marlowe as the best regional theatre in the country.

Leader of Canterbury City Council, Cllr Simon Cook, said: "It says so much about The Marlowe's reputation in the industry that we have been able to attract such a highly talented and respected figure as Jonathan to become the Chair of the new trust.

"It is an exceptional appointment and we have no doubts that he is the perfect choice to take The Marlowe forward for many years to come."

Since opening in October 2011, The Marlowe has achieved record sales results, attracting more than 400,000 people to its shows in 2016/17. It attracts some of the country's finest companies, including Glyndebourne Opera, the National Theatre, Royal Shakespeare Company, Matthew Bourne's New Adventures and the Philharmonia.

The Marlowe is now one of the most popular regional venues for the major touring musicals and shows transferring from the West End.

The annual pantomime (produced with Evolution Productions) attracts audiences of more than 90,000, and the theatre's Marlowe Friends scheme has grown to more than 14,000 members (making it the second largest in the country).

The Marlowe Studio is dedicated to new writing and creative activity, and offers the best of small-scale touring theatre. The Marlowe Kit (formerly Canterbury Heritage Museum) is the latest edition to the family.

The Marlowe has also developed a thriving creative programme, including a highly popular youth theatre, a large-scale annual community production, and an ambitious programme for schools. Since 2014, The Marlowe has also produced its own productions of new plays, some of which have transferred to leading new writing venues. These have been through Roar, The Marlowe's programme for new writing.

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