FIONA ALLAN STEPS DOWN AS CHIEF EXECUTIVE OF CURVE TO JOIN BIRMINGHAM HIPPODROME

Curve announces today that Fiona Allan will step down later this year, to join Birmingham Hippodrome as Chief Executive.

Since Allan joined Curve in early 2011, she has overseen the development of daytime programmes of free workshops and performances, the creation of visual arts exhibition space and also encouraging use of Curve by local businesses, as well as national conferences, with significant increases to annual visitor and audience numbers.

In addition, Allan oversaw the implementation on a new artistic strategy, with a deliberate focus on musical theatre – both revivals of classic titles for a new generation, and the nurture and development of new British musicals. Set against a strong backbone for drama and the championing of new work through the Inside Out Festival, this has seen the company thrive artistically as well as commercially in recent years.Theseefforts were rewarded in November 2012 when Curve was named Large Visitor Attraction of the Year at The Leicester and Leicestershire Tourism Excellence.

Fiona Allan said today, “I have had an extraordinary time at Curve over the past 4 years and am proud to have helped the organisation grow and prosper.  It is now a venue at the heart of the community it serves, with a loyal and passionate audience, a thriving conferencing business, and an established reputation as a producing powerhouse.   I am sorry to be leaving Leicester and my brilliant Curve team, but will leave knowing that the business is in terrific shape and that Nikolai Foster has exciting plans for its artistic development.”

Chair of the Board, Philip Tasker added, “We’re very sorry to see Fiona leave Curve – she has been absolutely pivotal in putting Curve at the forefront of regional theatre. Since joining Curve in 2011, she has led a programme of organisational development which has seen significant increases in audiences, expansion of Curve’s learning, participation and community activity, increased use of Curve for major national conferences, and recognition of Curve as a driver of Leicester’s social, cultural and economic development. She leaves the theatre well-placed to thrive under the exciting artistic leadership of Nikolai Foster and we wish every success in her new role at Birmingham Hippodrome.”

Allan will remain as CEO at Curve until October.  Recruitment will commence shortly for her successor.