Everyman and Playhouse announces new creative director

The Everyman and Playhouse has announced the appointment of a new creative director.

Suba Das is due to join the theatres next spring from his current role as artistic director and chief executive of new writing company High Tide.

The role of Everyman and Playhouse creative director replaces that of artistic director which was held by Gemma Bodinetz from 2004 until she stepped down earlier this year. She has recently been appointed director of the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland’s school of dance, drama, production and film.

The new creative director will lead on shaping and delivering artistic vision and programming, building on the Liverpool theatres’ ‘reputation for artistic vision, talent development and progressive social change’.

One key part of the role will be putting new work and local stories at the heart of the artistic programme. It also covers digital content and distribution.

Das said: “To be entrusted with helping lead the vision for one of the UK’s most important theatres in the most incredible honour, and it’s certainly quite the journey for a brown kid brought up on benefits.

“It’s also an extraordinary responsibility as I don’t think we’ve ever experienced a more profoundly serious need for culture. We need safe, inclusive theatre spaces where people of all backgrounds can really debate, explore and hopefully find some joy in being together as we emerge from a pandemic.

“I’ve always believed it’s the artist’s role in society to help us all to imagine different futures.”

Das was born in Newcastle and studied English at Cambridge before going on to train on the Birkbeck MFA in Theatre Directing.

He is a former artistic director at Leicester Curve and has been a resident director at the National Theatre Studio and for English Touring Theatre, as well as working with venues including The Young Vic, Northern Stage and Nottingham Playhouse.