Guest Blog: Chief Executive Dan Bates On An Incredible 2017 at Sheffield Theatres

As Christmas approaches, we are looking back over an incredible 2017 at Sheffield Theatres. This year has been our third as Regional Theatre of the Year and the first under the artistic leadership of Robert Hastie. We've packed so much in, both on our stages and out in the community, and we're proud to have welcomed over 400,000 people through our doors over the past 12 months.

We've premiered brand new work: tackling family dynamics in the gripping comedy Of Kith & Kin, and thrilling audiences with Everybody's Talking About Jamie, a vibrant and life-affirming new musical which is now playing to audiences in the West End.

We've reimagined great classics, with our Artistic Director's inaugural production, Julius Caesar, a bold and visceral retelling of the searing political thriller, and Eugene O'Neill's epic and haunting tragedy, Desire Under the Elms.

From new to classical works, from the personal to the political, we have held up a mirror to our world, reflecting and celebrating the diversity of our city region. This has included productions of Tribes, Nina Raine's play about a D/deaf young man growing up in a hearing family; The Who's Tommy, presented as part of our Ramps on the Moon partnership, bringing a cast of disabled and non-disabled performers to the stage; and What We Wished For, a brand new musical performed by Sheffield People's Theatre, bringing an 80-strong community company to the Crucible stage to create this epic production.

At the same time, we continue to reach out into our community and share the transformative joy of theatre. Through our Dementia Friendly programme we have supported people in some of our most isolated communities to be creative and make art together.

We welcomed thousands of people through the doors of our annual Fun Palace for a weekend packed with activities for young and old to enjoy side by side. We worked with a group of adults with learning disabilities and/or Autism to create a short play which culminated in a performance in the Studio.

Our workforce is developing and changing to better reflect the fabric of our local community, and we are engaging with new audiences who want to come and explore, take part and enjoy.

And we've presented some of the best touring productions in the UK right now, for audiences to enjoy on the Lyceum and Studio stages. Across our three spaces, this year has truly offered something for everyone.

We are proud to make work in this city, by the people of Sheffield and for the people of Sheffield. These buildings belong to this city, and we belong to all of it. So we open our doors wide - as wide as we possibly can - and we welcome everyone in.

Watch a video celebrating 2017 at Sheffield Theatres below!