Dave Moutrey Reappointed as Chair of Theatres Trust, UK

Theatres Trust, the national public advisory and advocacy body for theatres, is pleased to announce that Rt Hon Lisa Nandy MP, Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport has reappointed Dave Moutrey as Chair for a further three-year term.

Two Trustees have also been reappointed; James Dacre, Director and Producer, founder of Living Productions and Stephanie Hall, a barrister specialising in town and country planning at Kings Chambers.

As an arms-length public body, appointments to the Theatres Trust’s Board are made by the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport. All appointments are for a three-year term, beginning on 21st February 2025.

Dave Moutrey is Director of Culture for Manchester City Council where he is responsible for advising the council on policy and strategy for culture. He was appointed as Theatres Trust’s Chair in February 2022, and during his first three-year tenure he oversaw a refresh of the organisation’s vision and mission and led the recruitment of Theatres Trust’s new CEO, Joshua McTaggart. 

Dave saysI am delighted that the Secretary of State has approved my re-appointment for another term as Chair of the Theatres Trust alongside the renewal of two other trustees who give their valuable time to our brilliant board. To have the Secretary of State’s confidence to do this work is a great honour. As a Department for Culture, Media and Sport Arm’s Length Body, Theatres Trust is the only organisation empowered to protect the UK’s theatre ecosystem, from small-scale community spaces through to large-scale commercial auditoriums. Given the numerous challenges currently facing the sector, our mission and purpose feel more vital than ever. I am especially looking forward to working with our new Director Joshua McTaggart as he and our team develop our next strategic plan to ensure theatres across the country continue to be fit for the future.

Joshua McTaggart, Theatres Trust’s CEO says,It is fantastic news that Dave [Moutrey] has been reappointed as Theatres Trust’s Chair, and James [Dacre] and Stepanie [Hall] reappointed as Trustees. Their collective knowledge and experience are invaluable to Theatres Trust, especially as we head towards our 50th anniversary in 2026. I am excited to work with them, and the rest of our Board, to expand Theatres Trust’s reach and impact, develop our impartial professional advice services, and grow the recently established Sector Skills Bank.

Dave is responsible for leading the creation and delivery of Manchester City Council’s cultural and creative industries policy and strategy, working closely with the city’s cultural and creative sectors on joint initiatives. He was appointed to this role after a 6-year part-time secondment to the Council as Director of Culture. 

Until March 2024, he was Director and Chief Executive of HOME, a purpose-built multi-art venue that opened in May 2015. He conceived and led the merger of Cornerhouse and Library Theatre Company to create HOME, along with the £25m capital project for the building, which has attracted almost 1 million visits per year since opening. HOME includes 5 cinema screens, education spaces, digital production and broadcast facilities, a 500-seat theatre, 150-seat flexible theatre, a large gallery, café bar, restaurant, offices, and other spaces consistent with a production centre. It provides opportunities for artists and audiences to create work together, as well as a social and cultural hub. Before HOME, Dave was Director and CEO of Cornerhouse from 1998, having established and led the regional arts marketing agency Arts About Manchester. 

Dave was awarded an OBE for services to culture in 2022 and a Doctor of Arts honoris causa by the University of Salford in 2018. He is a member of the Chartered Management Institute and the British Academy of Film and Television Arts. He was previously an advisor to the British Council and still holds several non-executive roles on not-for-profit boards.

Main Image: Courtesy of Theatres Trust