Selina Cartmell, a woman with shoulder length brown hair

Photo: Agata Stoinska-Small

Changing Faces

Royal Exchange Theatre appoints first Creative Director

Arts Professional
2 min read

Manchester's Royal Exchange Theatre has announced SELINA CARTMELL as its Creative Director. She will take up the newly-created role in August.

The theatre adopted a new leadership structure following the departure of its co-Artistic Directors ROY ALEXANDER WEISE and BRYONY SHANAHAN in 2023.

Under the new model, Cartmell will become one of three artistic leaders, alongside Resident Associate Director NICKIE MILES-WILDIN and Dramaturg SUZANNE BELL. 

From 2016 to 2022 Cartmell was Artistic Director of the Gate Theatre, Dublin. Prior to this, she was Founder and Artistic Director of Siren Productions.

Cartmell said: "I am thrilled to be joining the team at the Royal Exchange Theatre at such an important and exciting time. 

"My ambition for the Royal Exchange Theatre is for it to be an inclusive home that attracts the best of emerging and established talent to connect and inspire audiences and communities – old and new – and to share these stories with the world.  What we commission and create needs to be visionary, progressive and relevant and reflect the world we live in.  We need to be global in outlook and fiercely independent, distinctive and deeply local in output."

Royal Exchange Theatre Chief Executive STEVE FREEMAN added: "I am genuinely excited about Selina’s appointment as Creative Director of the Royal Exchange. She brings with her a wealth of experience, and her inspiring vision excited us during our extensive recruitment process."