CAST CHANGES AT THE CHELTENHAM PLAYHOUSE

Cheltenham

Kieron Milsom and Martha Henley, Chief Executive and Deputy General Manager of the Cheltenham Playhouse Theatre, have both announced they will be leaving the charity in January, 2025.

The two-person management team has led the Playhouse through the immediate aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, overseeing a 200% increase in ticket sales, securing hundreds of additional events per year, and expanding the active audience base of the eighty-year-old theatre to a modern high of over 40,000 annual visitors.

“We cannot offer sufficient praise for Kieron and Martha’s hard work and leadership during such a challenging period for arts organisations,” said Mo Mytton, the charity’s Interim Chair of Trustees.

“They have achieved at the Playhouse what many other local community theatres have found increasingly difficult, growing our charity from the very difficult post-COVID world to the sustainable, diverse and vibrant place where we find ourselves today. It’s been inspiring to watch them work.”

The Cheltenham Playhouse is housed in a Grade II-listed former bath house in the heart of the Regency town, and has played host to a theatre since 1945. It costs more than £1,000 a day to keep the Playhouse’s doors open. Its recent focus has been on high-quality productions that have brought audiences back through the theatre’s doors.

"Nationally, it is a challenging time for all theatres, particularly those without additional funding,” explained Kieron Milsom. “The theatre's income is primarily derived from ticket sales, so it has been a huge honour to expand the Playhouse’s programming in order to achieve a more sustainable footing for the charity moving forwards.”

A range of challenges face small arts organisations nationwide, and especially local theatres: selling out every performance would still leave the Playhouse with a financial shortfall, and so further funding - such as rent reliefs from the local council - are also an important part of the charity’s mix. Milsom and Henley have worked to advocate for local arts funding throughout their time in post.

“It’s been so rewarding helping the Playhouse through this period,” emphasised Martha Henley. “We feel really proud of the work we’ve done, and especially of securing the survival of such an important part of Cheltenham’s history.”

Having navigated choppy post-COVID waters, the Playhouse is now looking to strengthen its position by expanding the Board of Trustees, which currently consists of Mo Mytton and actors Kieran Mortell and Neve Doyle. The charity is actively recruiting individuals with governance, financial oversight, personnel and fundraising experience.

“We are extremely keen to expand,” adds Mo Mytton, “and we would love to hear from anyone with a passion for the arts and the skills to help a small theatre thrive.
Our goal is to continue to serve our community for another eighty years.”

Recent productions at the Playhouse have included sell-out performances of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, The Wedding Singer and Howlers Comedy Club. The charity also emphasises its role as a community space, offering opportunities for local groups and volunteers to make use of the theatre for their own activities, meetings and productions.

“It’s a unique place with a really special past - and bags of potential,” says Kieron Milsom. “I have really valued my time as part of its long history, and I’d like to say that Martha’s work has been exemplary. Having helped it reach its present position, I can’t wait to see where it goes next.”

Anyone interested in joining the charity’s Board of Trustees should email a short letter and CV to board@cheltplayhouse.org.uk

 

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