York Theater Royal appoints Paul Crewes as new Managing Director

The York Theater Royal has announced the appointment of Paul Crewes as its new Managing Director.

Paul has extensive experience in the world of theater and the arts, having worked as Executive Director, Producer and Artistic Advisor with a number of theater and arts organizations across the UK and US – including his most recent role as Artistic Director of The Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts in Los Angeles.

Commenting on his appointment, Mr Crewes said: “I am delighted to be joining the York Theater Royal team. The theater has done a great job both on stage and around town over the years.

“We will continue to expand this work, supporting great artists and practitioners, and attracting and growing new audiences. I look forward to getting started in October.”

Paul spent the first 15 years of his career producing at theatres, including the Bristol Old Vic, ending up as Production Manager at companies as diverse as Pained Plow, London Contemporary Dance Theater and from 1995 to 2001 Plymouth Theater Royal.

Paul Crewes will begin his role in York in October (Image: Included)

During this time, he also served as Head of Technical Education at RADA for three years. From 2001 to 2004 Paul moved to West Yorkshire Playhouse, now Leeds Playhouse, as a producer.

His other work includes producing the UK tour of ‘He was a 2005 “doorman” for his own company, associate producer at Lowry, producer at Phoenix Dance Theater Company and worked on metal with Jude Kelly.

From 2015 to 2021, Paul was Artistic Director of the Wallis Annenberg Center for Performing Arts in Los Angeles. Valais produces and presents local, national and international works from the fields of theatre, dance, music and film.

Paul was Trustee of Liverpool’s Everyman and Playhouse from 2008 to 2015 – and a member of the Steering Committee of the Stirling award-winning Everyman Theatre.

Chair of the Board of Trustees of York Citizens’ Theater Trust, Ann Green CBE, said: “We are delighted to welcome Paul to the York Theater Royal. Paul has an enormously wide and deep knowledge and experience and a passion for the positive role theater can play in community life.

“Building on all the fantastic work the team has done over the past few years, we are all delighted to be working together to begin a new, fresh and confident chapter in the life of York Theater Royal.”

Paul will take on the role of Managing Director at the York Theater Royal from mid-October.

For over 275 years, the theater has welcomed the people of York and beyond and entertained it with a rich and varied program of creative activities.