Successful Chief Executive Matthew Russell who helped turn Queen’s Theatre around during difficult period to leave.

Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch yesterday announced that Mathew Russell will be leaving his role at Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch at the beginning of May 2024, after seven years working for the charity.

 Mathew Russell has been Executive Director at Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch since March 2017. In that time he has steered the charity through a period of financial turnaround, award-winning success, its first capital redevelopment, the pandemic and recovery, and considerable fundraising achievements, including a significant increase in Arts Council England investment. Mathew has established new place-making partnerships like Havering Changing, Fuse and Creative Health Havering and developed pioneering projects with the National Theatre’s Public Acts and Theatre Nation programmes and the international Future Laboratory collaboration. He is co-chair of Havering’s bid to be London Borough of Culture.

Mathew said: ‘I’m incredibly proud of what the team, artists, audiences and participants have achieved together at Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch over the past seven years. And for the invaluable support of our trustees, committees, stakeholders and partners. Huge thanks to everyone I’ve had the opportunity to work with.

As we reach the end of the first year of our new three-year cycle, and before planning starts for the next, it feels like the right time to pass the baton on to the next Chief Executive for our much-loved charity. Particularly at such a remarkable time for culture in Outer East London and South Essex, and given the vital role QTH plays in that region.

Having run organisations for a long time, I’m looking forward to exploring a portfolio of projects with different organisations, including some place-based and strategic partnership work in the pipeline.’

Dr David Shearing, interim Chair of the Board said: “Mathew has demonstrated exceptional leadership in revitalising the theatre, fostering artistic innovation, and successfully delivering record investments over the past seven years. We express our gratitude for his significant contributions to both the theatre and the cultural life of Havering and beyond.

 He has played a pivotal role in solidifying Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch’s position in the U.K and international theatre landscape. He has delivered extraordinary work with our partners and will be greatly missed. As he departs, the theatre is well prepared to embrace the opportunities and challenges ahead. We hope there are moments for future collaboration with Mathew in Havering in the years to come.”

 Recruitment for a new permanent Chief Executive will start shortly.

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