Theatre Royal Plymouth Chair of the Board Dame Darcey Bussell. She is seated in a theatre auditorium. She rests her elbow on the adjacent chair, smiling at the camera. She wears a dark blue suit with a pink shirt. Her hair is light brown, styled to the side.

Photo: Steve Haywood

Changing Faces

Bussell named chair of Theatre Royal Plymouth

Arts Professional
2 min read

Dame DARCEY BUSSELL has been appointed Chair of Theatre Royal Plymouth’s (TRP) board of trustees, commencing 1 April.

Outgoing chair NICK BUCKLAND OBE is to retire after seven years, following 13 years as a board member.

Bussell was a Principal dancer at The Royal Ballet for almost two decades, and is now a guest coach at the company. She founded the charity Diverse Dance Mix and the social enterprise Move-Assure and is also a President of the Royal Academy of Dance.

JAMES MACKENZIE-BLACKMAN, Chief Executive and Executive Producer of TRP, said Bussell is a “true embodiment” of the organisation’s values.

“Darcey’s vast artistic experience will ensure that she’s able to support, challenge and help steer our creative ambition and her exceptional network and global reputation will help us connect to people that will help us deliver on our plans.”

“I have known of the Theatre Royal and its excellence as a regional theatre for a long time, as I first danced on the beautiful Lyric stage over thirty years ago. It has been a pleasure getting to know the whole TRP team over the last few months as my husband and I establish a new base in Plymouth,” Bussell commented.

“TRP is the beating heart of Plymouth, a city whose future is very bright indeed and I am excited about playing my part.”