Queen's Theatre Hornchurch Welcomes New Executive Director, Chair of the Board

Queen's Theatre Hornchurch today announced the final members of its leadership team with the appointment of a new Chair and Executive Director.

The Queen's Theatre is excited to reveAl Claire Gevaux as the new Chair of the Board of Trustees. She succeeds Dennis Roycroft who said, 'Claire brings invaluable experience from other arts organisations to the Queen's Theatre. In addition, Claire's appointment as Chair together with Mathew and Douglas creates a new and dynamic executive leadership team capable of building on the Queen's Theatre's reputation nationally.'

Claire Gevaux is very much looking forward to leading the theatre during this very exciting time and welcomes the newly appointed Executive Director, Mathew Russell.

'We're delighted to announce the appointment of Mathew Russell who will join Artistic Director, Douglas Rintoul as joint Chief Executives at the Queen's Theatre. Mathew joins us at an exciting time and brings a wealth of skills and experience that we need to deliver an inspiring vision for the future. We've already achieved an incredible amount in the last year; winning 'Most Welcoming Theatre' award, refreshing our brand, creating innovative programmes to support local artists through 'Outer Limits', engaging a more diverse audience with the theatre as well as taking our work out to communities. Mathew's appointment completes our new leadership team and we are looking forward to continuing with this ambitious vision for the Queen's Theatre as the leading cultural hub in Havering, outer London and beyond.'

Mathew Russell is currently Executive Director at Cast in Doncaster, a major new arts centre in South Yorkshire that opened in September 2013. Previous to this, Mathew was Chief Executive at Stephen Joseph Theatre, Scarborough, overseeing a significant period of organisational change. From 2009 - 2014, Mathew spent five years as Executive Director of Watford Palace Theatre and before that eight years as Executive Director of Greenwich+Docklands Festivals.

As Executive Director, Mathew will oversee the delivery of the theatre's business objectives ensuring that it thrives both artistically and financially now and in the future. He succeeds Thom Stanbury and Interim Chief Executive Mary Caws.

Of his appointment, Mathew said: 'I've seen some brilliant theatre at the Queen's Theatre Hornchurch, and very much admire its rich heritage, the warm support it enjoys from audiences and the recent impressive changes under the leadership of new Artistic Director Douglas Rintoul. I'm looking forward to working with the Board, Doug and staff team to help realise some exciting projects in the pipeline, on stage and off, and contribute to the continuing development of this much loved and vitally important regional theatre.'

Since Douglas Rintoul was appointed Artistic Director 18 months ago at the Queen's Theatre Hornchurch, he has pioneered a new era of creative collaborations with UK theatres and supported emerging local artists. The theatre is set to undergo even more exciting development under the direction of its two newly appointed leaders.

Over 200,000 people enjoy the Queen's Theatre's programme every year, including the best in home-produced theatre, visiting live entertainment and inspiring Learning and Participation projects.