Liverpool’s Unity Theatre is delighted to announce the appointment of Matthew Linley as Artistic Director and Chief Executive Officer.
Mr. Linley succeeds Graeme Phillips, who has guided Unity Theatre for the last 34 years and maintained its tradition of staging radical but accessible work that stretches back to the 1930s.
Matthew is currently General Manager with Eastern Angles – an acclaimed touring theatre company based in Ipswich. He has previously led venues in Leicester (Phoenix Arts), Reading (21 South Street) and Bath (Michael Tippett Centre).
Matthew Linley said on his appointment, “I am thrilled to be invited to become the new Chief Executive and Artistic Director of Unity Theatre. To be asked to lead this remarkable venue with its reputation for challenging and edgy work is a dream job for me. Independent theatre, supporting new/ home grown talent and venues rooted in a strong sense of community have always been key passions of mine. In the last few years I’ve been making regular visits to Liverpool and I’ve always been struck by the way the city holds culture close to its heart. There is a very real sense of collaboration, pride, ambition and optimism, and I’m looking forward to being part of that, and working with the artists and audiences of this brilliant city.
Most of all though I want to build on the legacy of Graeme’s 34 year tenure and work with the whole Unity team to ensure the theatre continues not just to thrive but to punch way above its weight in the city, regionally, nationally and beyond.”
As both Artistic Director and Chief Executive Officer Matthew will lead a venue that promotes cutting-edge work from the national and international circuit. Unity Theatre supports a reservoir of talent, with a number of embryonic companies, and individual artists in the early stages of development.
Unity Theatre’s Chair of Board, Chris Bliss, commented, “Matthew was the outstanding candidate from a very a strong field of contenders and we are of course delighted to welcome him aboard.
He has a passion for cutting-edge theatre that both challenges and entertains. His experience, leadership and energy will help us take Unity forward, as well as providing the continuity to build on the considerable achievements of Graeme Phillips.”
Matthew’s independent producer credits include chairing the Artist Taking the Lead panel for the East, four Phrased & Confused festival programmes and a national tour, U.K. tours for Croatian radical theatre makers BadCo and House of Extreme Music Theatre, the hub’s Insulting Cabaret (Royal National Theatre and Southwark Playhouse) and producing all of Windswept Productions tours and activities.
Ian Tabbron, Senior Relationship Manager at Arts Council England added,
“The Arts Council are delighted that Matthew Linley has accepted the job of Artistic Director and C.E.O. at Unity Theatre. His combination of leadership, experience and artistic insight should ensure that Unity is able to grow as an organisation even in economically challenging times. We look forward to working with Matthew and the Unity team to usher in a new and exciting era.”