The Stage

Smaje to join Hull Truck as chief executive

Published Tuesday 27 July 2010 at 12:41 by Alistair Smith

Hull Truck Theatre has appointed Theatre Royal Bath associate director Andrew Smaje as its chief executive.

The new role has been created following a review of Hull Truck’s management structure, which has seen Gareth Tudor Price remain artistic director and Paul Marshall become operations director. John Godber will take on the role of artist in residence when Smaje joins the venue in October.

Smaje has been associate director at the Theatre Royal Bath for the last decade and has also served as artistic director of the Theatre Royal’s Ustinov Theatre. Before he leaves in October, he will continue to work on programming the Ustinov’s forthcoming line-up for spring 2011.

Smaje is from Yorkshire and began his career at Bradford Playhouse, before moving to Bristol Old Vic and Theatre Royal Bath in August 1999.

He commented: “Hull Truck’s new £15 million theatre, with its brilliant 440-seat main house and new studio space, right in the heart of Hull city centre, represents a real opportunity for the company to develop its programme and to entice new audiences. I’m very excited to have been charged with securing the next stage of Hull Truck’s future.”

Simon Reade, currently associate producer for Theatre Royal Bath Productions, will take on the additional role of acting director of the Ustinov until a full-time replacement is appointed.