Royal Exchange’s Suzanne Bell to move to Theatr Clwyd

Royal Exchange dramaturg Suzanne Bell has been appointed director of Theatr Clwyd’s professional development hub Stiwdio Clwyd.

Bell will helm Stiwdio Clwyd’s existing development programmes, including writer and director residencies, as well as creating new schemes across a number of disciplines based on need. A full programme for the hub under her leadership will be announced in 2025.

Alongside her work at Manchester’s Royal Exchange on a number of world premieres by playwrights including Winsome Pinnock and Phoebe Eclair-Powell, Bell has overseen the Bruntwood Prize for Playwriting for the past 12 years, during which it has gone international.

Bell’s move to Theatr Clwyd comes less than two months after the Royal Exchange’s last-minute decision to cancel its production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream over “Free Palestine” and “trans rights” references, which has prompted an independent review at the theatre. However, The Stage understands Bell was appointed to her new role in August, before the events at the Royal Exchange.

In her new role, Bell will bring her experience of putting together artist development programmes and workshops at venues including the Liverpool Everyman and Playhouse theatres, London’s Royal Court and Birmingham Rep.

“I am delighted to be joining Theatr Clwyd at this pivotal moment in its history and am excited to have the honour and privilege to work with and support Welsh artists,” Bell said. “Stiwdio Clwyd will be transformational in supporting artists, creatives and theatremakers throughout their careers and across disciplines.”

The position is funded by the John Ellerman Foundation, which supports charities “of the highest quality that [are] nationally significant", focusing on new and original work.

Stiwdio Clwyd is also funded by the Noël Coward Foundation, which awards grants to educational and professional development projects across the performing arts.