GUILDFORD’S YVONNE ARNAUD APPOINTS NEW THEATRE DIRECTOR

GUILDFORD’S Yvonne Arnaud Theatre is excited to announce that Joanna Read has been appointed as the venue’s Chief Executive and Theatre Director.

Yvonne Arnaud Theatre Chairman, Julian Bird said: “From a list of outstanding applicants, Joanna shone through with her experience, her knowledge of the sector, her passion for regional theatre and her vision for Guildford’s historic theatre.  We are thrilled she is joining the Yvonne Arnaud Theatre to take it forward into the future.”

Joanna Read said: “I am excited to be returning full time to theatre again and to leading the Yvonne Arnaud.  I look forward to working with the staff and audiences there, ensuring this tremendous theatre continues to thrive and to developing an engaging and exciting programme of work for its audience.”

Joanna was formely Principal and Chief Executive of LAMDA, The London Academy of Dramatic Arts.  A theatre director by profession, Joanna took up the position at LAMDA in 2010 with a brief to raise the international artistic and education profile of the Academy.

Before LAMDA, Joanna was Chief Executive and Artistic Director of Salisbury Playhouse. Under her leadership, the Playhouse became one of the leading regional producing theatres of the last decade.  

Joanna is currently a board member of the Regional Theatre Young Directors, President of Guildford Shakespeare Company and external Examiner for the LIR Theatre Academy, Trinity College Dublin.

Previous roles include Associate Director of the Octagon Theatre Bolton and Head of Education and Participation for Birmingham Rep.  

Joanna has worked as a freelance director and writer for Edinburgh Festival Theatre, the Young Vic London, the New Vic Theatre Newcastle Under Lyme, The Watermill West Berkshire Playhouse, The Mill at Sonning and the Watford Palace Theatre, amongst others. 

The team at Guildford’s Yvonne Arnaud Theatre looks forward to welcoming Joanna to the Theatre in a full-time capacity from January 2019.