English Touring Theatre appoints Amy Vaughan as chair of board

Battersea Arts Centre leader Amy Vaughan is to chair the board of English Touring Theatre, vowing to champion its mission at a "challenging" time for touring.

Vaughan, who has worked as executive director at BAC since 2022, is to help steer ETT’s board alongside newly-appointed trustees Alison Holder and Harriet Mackie.

Formerly, she worked as director of touring and director of change programmes for Arts Council England.

She joins the board at the same time as Holder – a producer working across theatre, short film and audio, whose work has been seen at venues including Brixton House and HOME in Manchester.

Mackie, a fellow appointment, works at the National Theatre as its head of producing: development.

Richard Twyman, artistic director and chief executive of ETT, and Sophie Scull, the company’s executive producer, said: "We are immensely proud and excited to welcome Amy Vaughan as ETT’s new chair of the board of trustees alongside new trustees, Alison Holder and Harriet Mackie.

"The experience of all three will propel ETT forwards as we face the challenges and opportunities of the coming years. They join a group of engaged, supportive and highly skilled trustees to whom we are incredibly grateful for their time and energy."

Vaughan said she was "delighted and honoured" to be taking up the role.

"I’ve long admired ETT’s work, but more than that, they are a company rooted in values I can really get behind.

"In a sector that’s become increasingly challenging for touring organisations, I’m hoping that with my venue and policy background, and the team’s unwavering vision to create bold and brilliant theatre that builds audiences for venues right across the country, we can provoke and challenge, and bring some pretty big ideas to fruition," she said.