James Mackenzie-Blackman to leave Eden Court to run Theatre Royal Plymouth

Eden Court chief executive James Mackenzie-Blackman is to leave his post at the end of the year to lead Theatre Royal Plymouth.

He will become chief executive of the Plymouth theatre, replacing Adrian Vinken, who announced he was stepping down earlier this year.

Mackenzie-Blackman joined Eden Court in 2017, and since then has launched summer music festival Under Canvas and has been credited for leading the business through a period of significant growth, particularly around fundraised income.

In January 2021, Eden Court was awarded £500,000 from the Garfield Weston Foundation’s Culture Fund to enable the business to recover from the pandemic, which was the largest grant in Scotland.

Mackenzie-Blackman said: “It has been an absolute honour to lead Eden Court. Even in the most challenging of circumstances I have been amazed by the skill, resilience and creativity of my exceptional team. We have achieved so much together, and there is much opportunity to still be maximised and developed. Given Eden Court’s current reputation and status in Scotland and beyond, I am confident the board will attract an exceptional new leader.”

Mackenzie-Blackman grew up in Plymouth and described returning as the venue’s new chief executive “feels like the best way possible to repay the debt of gratitude that I owe the city and the theatre”.

Don Robertson, chair of the board at Eden Court Highlands, praised Mackenzie-Blackman’s “outstanding contribution to Eden Court”.

“However, I recognise that he is leaving for a role that offers unique benefits, both professionally and personally,” he added.

Creative Scotland chief executive Iain Munro said he had “brought enormous energy and impressive leadership to bear during his time at Eden Court, including widening its relationship with diverse communities, and taking work out beyond the venue itself”.

“The period of the pandemic has brought unprecedented challenges that James has navigated with great sensitivity and resilience and is leaving Eden Court in good shape. He will be missed, not just in relation to his impact at Eden Court, but also because of his generous and collegiate contribution to the wider performing arts in Scotland. We wish him well for the future,” Munro added.

Nick Buckland, chair of Theatre Royal Plymouth, said finding a new chief executive for Theatre Royal Plymouth after Vinken "was never going to be easy", but added: "After an exhaustive process I’m delighted that we’ve been able to appoint James. His extensive experience in the sector means the organisation can continue to develop its preeminent role in the city, the region, and nationally, offering the broadest programme of stage work, and one of the biggest engagement, learning and talent development programmes.”