Elizabeth Newman to leave Bolton Octagon for Pitlochry Festival Theatre

Elizabeth Newman is to step down as artistic director of the Octagon Theatre in Bolton to run the Pitlochry Festival Theatre.

She becomes artistic director of the theatre in September 2018.

Newman said she would be endeavouring to extend the audience at Pitlochry, which caters for audiences from across Scotland.

The theatre is without an artistic director following the resignation of John Durnin, who stepped down at the end of December last year after 15 years in the role.

Newman joined the Octagon as an associate director in 2010, becoming artistic director in 2015.

“I cannot wait to lead the theatre’s artistic programme as we endeavour to reach more people throughout Scotland and beyond. We have ambitious plans to make change happen at the theatre in the hills,” she said.

Speaking of Newman’s recruitment, PFT executive director Kris Bryce said: “We can look forward to Elizabeth’s building on the theatre’s successes as she sets out her own artistic vision both now and after the dramatic changes that its forthcoming creative and capital development programme will bring.”

PFT is moving into the second phase of its Vision 2021 plan, which includes improving its technical infrastructure and increasing the number of audience members who stay in the Pitlochry area from 30,000 to 70,000 a year.