Camden People's Theatre appoints dramaturg Rio Matchett as artistic director

Camden People’s Theatre has appointed Rio Matchett as artistic director, replacing 13-year-long incumbent Brian Logan.

Dramaturg and director Matchett will join the organisation in October 2024, as Logan departs to head up Glasgow’s A Play, a Pie and a Pint.

CPT is also set to welcome interim executive director and joint chief executive Clare Robertson.

From September, Robertson will share the chief executive role with Matchett and take on executive director responsibilities from Kaya Stanley-Money, who departs to take maternity leave.

Matchett moves to CPT from Leeds Playhouse, where she has spent five years running studio programming, new work and artist development programmes.

She has also led Leeds Conservatoire’s MA in Dramaturgy, with her experience in dramaturgical work involving stints at the Young Vic, Traverse Theatre and National Theatre Studios.

Matchett said: "I am honoured to be joining Camden People’s Theatre, and so excited by the prospect of leading the organisation into its next phase, with a renewed commitment to artistic risk, new work, accessibility and civic consciousness.

"I can’t wait to join the CPT community, to open its doors to new relationships, and to find more meaningful ways to collaborate with, challenge and grow with the wider new-work sector."

Robertson, who has been executive producer for Cardboard Citizens theatre company since 2019, said: "I am thrilled to be joining Camden People’s Theatre at the start of this vibrant new chapter for the organisation.

"As someone who is passionate about creating pathways for people who fall outside traditional ideas of who gets to make and consume art, I am excited to co-lead this people’s theatre that plays such a vital role in both its local and wider artistic communities."