Albany's new boss promises ambitious development

Coventry's Albany Theatre has announced the appointment of a new Chief Executive and Artistic Director to "take it through 2021 and beyond".

Kevin Shaw, a highly experienced theatre director and administrator, joined the Albany this week with a remit to oversee the next ambitious development phase of an arts venue that only opened its doors seven years ago.

Mr Shaw previously worked at Oldham's Coliseum Theatre for 17 years, where he directed more than 70 productions and founded a learning and engagement department which each year gave opportunities to more than 5,000 local people to engage with the theatre.

More recently, he has been a freelance director working in theatres across the country, teaching in drama schools, producing large-scale community plays and developing projects for television.

He said, "It is an incredibly exciting time to be joining the Albany Theatre, not just as Coventry heads into being the UK's City of Culture for 2021, but equally as the theatre itself heads into a massive period of growth and development that will put it at the heart of Coventry's thriving arts scene. I am delighted to be part of what is going to be a very bright future."

The Albany Theatre Trust is a charity overseen by a board of directors and with a core staff, including Kevin Shaw, leading volunteers who help with the day-to-day running of the theatre. It is committed to pursuing its Arts For Life initiative which promotes the benefits of work and involvement in the arts to promote well-being.