Theatre Royal Plymouth CEO to stand down after 31 years
Adrian Vinken OBE has overseen an extensive revamp, and also steered it through the challenges of the pandemic
The CEO of the Theatre Royal Plymouth is leaving his role.
Adrian Vinken OBE announced his intention to stand down yesterday (7 April).
He has been the CEO of the south west's principal performing arts centre since 1990 after a ten year career in Sheffield, during which he founded and directed the iconic Leadmill music venue.
Adrian Vinken said leading TRP has been a "dream job":
"The opportunity to work in this exceptional theatre in an amazing city with positive, dedicated colleagues, inspirational world-class artists and jaw-dropping, life affirming shows has been a rare privilege.
"Choosing the right time to leave was always going to be a tough call. But Plymouth’s cultural scene is currently on a roll with The Box now open, Mayflower 400 shows and events coming to fruition and the British Art Show arriving.
"We’ve also just launched Plymouth’s new Culture and Visitor Plans for 2020-30 and we’re approaching the Arts Council’s next four-year funding round so it felt like an ideal time to step aside for a new team to take TRP forward."
Adrian has overseen an extensive revamp of the venue, and also steered it through the challenges of the pandemic.
In April 2019 he also oversaw the commissioning and installation of the Messenger, the UK's largest ‘lost wax’ bronze sculpture created by Joseph Hillier, situated in front of the Theatre.
"Despite the horrendous hardships of this last COVID year, TRP remains on a sound footing and, given the emergence of Plymouth’s new Culture Plan, the Art Council’s new round of funds, and our recent award of funding from the second round of the Government’s Culture Recovery Fund, it’s an ideal time to handover to a new Chief Executive to lead the theatre from 2022."
Adrian Vinken OBE
TRP opened in 1982 is the youngest listed theatre in the UK and houses three auditoria.
The theatre will reopen in May with the world premiere of Rambert’s Draw From Within.