New face at the top of Cast Theatre

Deborah Rees will begin as the new director of Doncaster’s Cast Theatre in March.

She will make the move after spending a decade as boss of The Roses Theatre in Tewkesbury.

Her CV includes roles as programmes director at Script in Birmingham, administrative director of Worcester Swan Theatre and founder director of Artworcs, an arts production company.

She has also undertaken a wide variety of freelance and consultancy roles and currently acts as board member of Gloucestershire Dance and a founder board member of Create Gloucestershire.

Ms Rees said she was delighted to be coming to Cast and looked forward to helping it develop.

She said: “I am thrilled with my appointment to lead Cast at this time and aim to continue to build on the fantastic start that Cast has made since opening in 2013.

“Cast has a tremendous programme and a national reputation and I am looking forward to starting next year and working with the team.”

Ms Rees takes over from Mathew Russell who has been the company’s interim executive director since May following the departure of Kully Thairai who joined National Theatre Wales as its new artistic director.

Cast’s chair of the board of directors, Andy Carver, said: “Deborah joins Cast at crucial time in the company’s journey and I’m truly thrilled that she is to lead the company in building on Cast’s acclaimed success. Cast is going from strength to strength and both I and the board are confident that Deborah’s leadership will be an invaluable asset to Cast at a pivotal point in its development.”