Chichester's Kathy Bourne to become president of UK Theatre

Chichester Festival Theatre executive director Kathy Bourne has been elected as the new president of UK Theatre.

She will replace joint-presidents Stephanie Sirr, chief executive of Nottingham Playhouse, and Jon Gilchrist, artistic director and chief executive of Birmingham Hippodrome, who will continue to serve until July 2025. Bourne will be president from 2025 to 2028.

Alongside her tenure at CFT, at which she has worked on more than 30 productions, co-productions and West End transfers, Bourne chairs the board of Headlong Theatre, and is a trustee of physical comedy ensemble Spymonkey.

Bourne said she was "honoured" by her appointment, adding: "Having spent my entire career working in theatres and companies large and small across the UK, in both the commercial and subsidised sectors, I know full well our industry’s enormous value and significance for audiences and theatremakers. 

"We face many challenges but also many opportunities to support and celebrate the extraordinary work achieved across our industry. I am tremendously excited to work with Claire [Walker], Hannah [Essex] and the UK Theatre Board to represent our sector and look forward to advocating for the conditions which will help UK theatre to flourish.” 

SOLT and UK Theatre co-chief executives Claire Walker and Hannah Essex said: "Kathy is a leading figure in our sector, with decades of experience in both commercial and not for profit theatre organisations. We are hugely looking forward to working with her to deliver on UK Theatre’s mission to champion theatre and support our members to thrive.” 

Alongside Bourne, Kris Bryce, executive director of the Pitlochry Festival Theatre, has been re-elected as UK Theatre’s vice president, with his second term set to begin in July 2025. 

Roddy Gauld, chief executive of Bolton Octagon, Marianne Locatori, chief executive of Newcastle Theatre Royal, and Michael Ockwell, chief executive of Mayflower Theatre and creative director of MAST, have been elected as new board directors and will begin their three-year terms immediately.