Sheffield Theatres announces Elizabeth Newman as new Artistic Director

Sheffield Theatres has announced the appointment of Elizabeth Newman as their new Artistic Director.

Newman starts at Sheffield Theatres in December 2024, joining the executive team that also includes Chief Executive Tom Bird and Deputy Chief Executive Bookey Oshin.

Elizabeth Newman’s first season will be from autumn 2025.

She replaces outgoing artistic director Robert Hastie, who announced his departure in March 2024.

Elizabeth Newman joins Sheffield Theatres from Pitlochry Festival Theatre, where she has been Artistic Director since 2018. Notable productions include Faith Healer, for which she won Best Director in The Critic’s Awards for Theatre in Scotland, and critically acclaimed productions of Footloose, Sunshine On Leith, Shirley Valentine and Beautiful: The Carole King Musical.

A multi-award-winning theatre director, Elizabeth has directed over one hundred theatre productions all over the UK.

Sheffield Theatres produced the current West End hit Standing at the Sky’s Edge, directed by Robert Hastie, which is now playing at the Gillian Lynne Theatre in London until 3 August 2024.

Elizabeth Newman said in a statement: “I am absolutely thrilled to join Sheffield Theatres as their new Artistic Director. Collaborating with Tom Bird, Bookey Oshin, and the entire talented team in Sheffield is a dream come true, as I have long admired the incredible work being done at these amazing theatres. It is an immense honour to be entrusted to artistically lead the next chapter of this extraordinary organisation. My love for this vibrant city, rich with art, music, and a community of brilliant individuals, makes this opportunity even more special. Moving to Sheffield with my family in December fills me with excitement and anticipation. Sheffield is a cultural hub where creativity thrives and flourishes, and I am eager to contribute to the dynamic arts scene within which Sheffield Theatres sits. The theatres hold a significant place in the hearts of both the people that live in Sheffield and for everyone who visits the city. I’m excited to build upon these great legacies, creating unforgettable theatrical experiences for thousands of people every year as well as continuing to nurture and support the participants and artists involved in the theatres’ brilliant programmes year-round. I am deeply honoured and cannot wait to embark on this exciting journey.”

Chief Executive of Sheffield Theatre, Tom Bird said: “I’m overjoyed to welcome Elizabeth to Sheffield Theatres. 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, while ensuring that Sheffield Theatres continues to be a byword for exceptional theatrical quality and fearless ambition. I can’t wait for her to get started.”

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Main photo: Elizabeth Newman - Sheffield Theatres new artistic director. Photo by Sam Taylor