Birmingham Rep names new chair

The Birmingham Repertory Theatre has appointed former West Midlands Mayor ANDY STREET as its new chair of its board of trustees.

Street, who served as Mayor of the West Midlands from 2017 to 2024, will take up his role on 1 November.

The theatre said it will also be appointing a new artistic director after SEAN FOLEY announced he was stepping down earlier this year.

RACHAEL THOMAS, chief executive of The Rep, said: “We’re delighted that Andy Street is joining The Rep as the next chair of the board of trustees.

“Andy’s passion for Birmingham and culture is well known: he lives in the city and as Mayor was a tireless advocate for the cultural sector, recognising the benefits a vibrant sector brings to the region.

Street said: “It is a huge honour to be asked to chair one of my home city’s great cultural institutions, and one that I am personally a huge believer in.

“Arts and culture are mission critical to the success and the story of Birmingham, and The Rep is right at the heart of that.

“But whilst the theatre has a strong reputation locally, I believe we could be doing much more nationally and perhaps indeed internationally.

“Working with Rachael, her team, and the rest of the board, I intend to help make The Rep the best regional theatre in Europe.”