Portsmouth's New Theatre Royal appoints arts expert Angela Parks as chair of trustees

Southsea-based Angela Parks is an experienced public sector non-executive director with 14 years of experience serving on and chairing boards.

A long-standing supporter of the Guildhall Walk, Portsmouth venue, she already has strong links with the local visual arts community. In 2020 she successfully set up her own arts consultancy business Articulate Sage, helping artists to get funding and run large-scale cultural events, including My Dog Sighs’ 2021 blockbuster exhibition, Inside.

Angela said she was ‘delighted’ to take up the role and added: ‘I believe a vibrant theatre is an essential part of every city and I love the diverse range of events New Theatre Royal offers the community, everything from panto to Shakespeare. We have experienced lots of change over the years and even though we still face challenges ahead such as navigating the current cost-of-living crisis. I feel confident that as a team we can continue to build on the excellent foundations already in place and keep thriving as one of the leading cultural landmarks in our city.’

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As well as her considerable trustee experience, Angela also co-founded and ran the Cheltenham Paint Festival which attracts around 130 artists a year to paint the walls of Regency town. She is also a trustee of Art Space Portsmouth and has an MBA from the University of Gloucestershire.

In her new role, Angela will be working with the team to lead the theatre forward to fulfil its strategic vision and mission. She takes over from Simon Eden.

The theatre has been without a CEO since Scott Ramsay departed in March 2020.