Theatres Trust Appoints Rebecca Morland as Theatres Adviser

LONDON, April 12, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --

The Theatres Trust, the national advisory public body for theatres, is increasing its capacity to provide advice on the sustainable development of theatre buildings and is pleased to announce that Rebecca Morland has been appointed as the Trust's new Theatres Adviser to lead this exciting development.

Rebecca's role will be to provide one-to-one advice to theatres and develop and manage a new Theatres Advice Service. This will include the provision of a peer based 'Advisory Review' where theatres' specific capital and property related issues can be reviewed by professional peers. The Service will provide advice to theatres and interested parties on property, conveyancing, ownership and asset transfer of theatres; the preparation of feasibility and options appraisals; capital project management and budgets; governance, fundraising structures and procurement; and the maintenance of theatres to improve their environmental performance, building on the Trust's Ecovenue project which ended in 2012.

Director Mhora Samuel said: "I'm delighted to welcome Rebecca Morland to the Trust. Theatres face a particularly challenging time. With this appointment we are building our capacity to meet increasing demand from people running theatres and help them make the most of their capital assets and secure their future. This appointment marks an important landmark for the Trust as we focus our services going forward in four areas, Theatres at Risk, Grants, Theatres Advice and Planning."

Rebecca Morland will start at The Theatres Trust on the 8 May 2013.

Further information on The Theatres Trust can be obtained from its website http://www.theatrestrust.org.uk

Notes to Editors

1.     The Theatres Trust: The Theatres Trust is The National Advisory Public Body for theatres. The Trust was established by The Theatres Trust Act 1976 and The Theatres Trust (Scotland) Act 1978, 'to promote the better protection of theatres'. It is a statutory consultee on theatre buildings in the planning system, provides expert advice on the sustainable development of theatre buildings and helps promote awareness and solutions for theatres at risk. It champions all theatres, historic, contemporary and new in theatre use, in other uses or disused. The Trust is often the only source of expert advice on theatre use, design, conservation, property and planning matters available to theatre operators, local authorities and official bodies. The Theatres Trust's central London Theatreland-based Resource Centre provides access to a specialist theatre buildings Reference Library including books and architectural plans. The Trust's 15 trustees are appointed by the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport. Full information on the Trust and its Trustees can be found at http://www.theatrestrust.org.uk

2.     Rebecca Morland: Rebecca has wide experience of delivering a range of service to theatres, including interim management, management of change, capital projects and funding applications. She has worked with Punchdrunk, DanceDigital, Tara Arts, Theatre Royal Stratford East and LAMDA. Rebecca's previous roles include Executive Director at Hampstead Theatre, Administrative Director at Bristol Old Vic and Executive Director at Salisbury Playhouse. Rebecca has also worked at the Worcester Swan Theatre, and the Colchester Mercury, as well as the Soho Poly Theatre and in the West End. Rebecca currently sits on the TMA's Council of Management and the TMA's Finance Committee.

3.     The Theatres Trust's Theatres Advice Service: The Theatres Trust has provided advice to theatres in order to promote the better protection of theatres since it began in 1976. Over the years this advice has included: analysis and interpretation of the problems and challenges faced by capital projects; assessments of Arts Council and self-funded capital projects; case studies; contextual information and comparator projects and their design teams; ownership and property issues and environmental sustainability - particularly through its recently completed Ecovenue project. In addition to this it has developed key resources, managed by its Resources Adviser. These include a Theatres Database, Image Library, Reference Library, collections, architectural drawings and archives, a quarterly Theatres Magazine and a monthly News Digest.

The Theatres Adviser will manage a new Theatres Advice Service and deliver advice on the sustainable capital development of theatres. This is not a theatre consultancy role, rather it is an information, advice and guidance role which supports theatres to make better decisions and best use of available professional expertise.

The Advice Service provides the Trust with a new avenue for its delivery of advice to theatres - focused primarily on those theatres in theatre use, but also those in other uses. In so doing we believe this will help to protect theatres better and improve the standards of management and capital development of theatres by their owners and operators. In these economically challenged times theatres in theatre use are particularly looking to: become more sustainable; increase their financial self-sufficiency; improve their environmental performance to reduce energy and overhead costs and develop their viability as cultural, entertainment and leisure organisations. They are actively looking to maintain their buildings better and make best use of their assets. The demand for our advice in these areas has increased.  

As well as providing one-to-one advice to theatres, the Theatres Adviser and the Theatres Advice Service will include the provision of a peer based 'Advisory Review' where theatres' specific capital and property related issues can be reviewed by professional peers. It will also include a Workshop Programme focused on specific areas of need.

The Theatres Trust
Protecting theatres for everyone
T +44(0)20-7836-8591
http://www.theatrestrust.org.uk
@theatrestrust

For images and details contact Kate Carmichael, +44(0)20-7836-8591.