Elizabeth Newman joined Sheffield Theatres as Artistic Director just five months ago. Passionate about connecting with people and telling meaningful stories on stage, she’s settling into the role – and the city – with a real sense of purpose. Exposed caught up with Elizabeth last month to talk about joining the community, what’s next for the theatre group and how she sees its role at the heart of a region brimming with creativity.
How have you found settling into life in Sheffield?
It’s been great. I’ve been in five months now, and we’ve settled in to our house in Greenhill. Me and my partner and my daughter, we feel really at home on our street. We love living there.
It’s great getting to know the city again. When I used to run a theatre in Bolton, I’d visit Sheffield quite a bit, and my partner went to university here – so for him, it’s a bit of a homecoming. The team here are lovely. I’m having the best time – Tom [Bird, Chief Exec] is a brilliant partner in crime, and me, him and Bookey [Oshin, Dep Chief Exec] as a team just have a really great laugh. We also took on the Montgomery in January – our fourth theatre in the family. It’s really odd that our fourth child is actually our oldest child!
What are your impressions of Sheffield’s theatre scene and creative community?
It’s really buzzing. The theatres are all really different – the Crucible’s got its own vibe going on, the Playhouse and Lyceum have another, and the Monty has that sense of history. Everyone’s incredibly positive and warm and open. I’ve really enjoyed meeting all the artists so far. I’ve done a couple of sessions and general workshop auditions to meet lots of local actors. It feels vibrant and exciting to be part of.
What drew you to this role in particular?
Sheffield Theatres is a world-class organisation. I’m obsessed with great writing, great acting and audiences – so this fits the bill. As an Artistic Director, I want to be in service to a place. It’s a bit like being a vicar! You get to know people, communities within communities, and you have a dialogue with them all.
We’re the largest theatre complex outside London, which I think reflects Sheffield’s artistic ambition. It’s always had that aspiration to make work that is world-class – to make Sheffield proud.
Photo by Sam Taylor
What does the role of Artistic Director actually involve?
I’m responsible for what we do, how we do it and who we do it with. I share responsibility with Tom and Bookey to lead the organisation, and my job is to be responsible for the artistic vision.
And how do you approach that artistic vision?
We’ll continue to put on the great plays and musicals, but we’re also going to do more new work, work with different people. There’s a lot of new work in this season – it doesn’t mean abandoning musicals, just that we want to be the creative force of the North.
Tom and I genuinely feel we are the National Theatre of the North. There’s a real hunger and appetite here artistically – it’s a city of expression. Sheffield Theatres has a responsibility to be a beacon for that. Art is for everyone – it’s productions, yes, but also that child joining our new youth theatre, the baby at our early years provision, the older person coming to our tea dances.
That’s all art. Theatres have an ability to make incredible work and in doing so, help people feel less lonely and more able to make sense of the world. Live performance is vital because you’re with other people in that moment – you’re not alone.
Have there been any stand-out moments for you so far?
I’m always proud of the team here. I was proud to be at the dementia-friendly performance of Little Shop of Horrors, the relaxed performance of the panto… proud when we went on general sale and there was a queue round the corner – they said it hadn’t happened in years.
But it’s also the little things. Proud of the box office, of finance switching systems, of HR doing the same. My interest is in organisations thriving and the people within them flying. Getting to be there to encourage and support and love and be a cheerleader – that’s the good stuff.
There’ve been plenty of successful local stories told recently – Everybody’s Talking About Jamie and Standing at the Sky’s Edge, for example, enjoying success in the West End. How do you balance the local and the global?
I don’t think the two are mutually exclusive – I think local is global. The most important thing is, are we doing it brilliantly? Are we doing great drama?
I love finding those stories. I’m a sponge for narrative – there are stories to be found in Kelham Island, on Abbeydale Road, down London Road, in Rassam’s – my daughter’s favourite ice cream place! Being an Artistic Director is about listening to a place. Sometimes that means listening to people, other times just being quiet and letting the place speak to you.
What’s coming up that you’re excited about?
We’ve got the Launchpad Festival in summer, and Together Festival – our big community festival with 250 participants. Then we kick off with our first full season, which I’m really excited about. We’ve got football outside the theatre, a beach for the Summer Holiday musical, live carols for A Sheffield Christmas Carol, new work in the Playhouse – loads!
What people will start to see is a really cohesive story about how all those things link. Whether you’re nine days old or 99, Sheffield Theatres is with you for life.
Finally, what would you say to someone who doesn’t think theatre is for them?
I get it. I directed a play before I saw one professionally. My dad was thrilled I got the job here – but because of the snooker!
We’ve got things that are new, old, funny, musical, dance. Maybe you don’t fancy watching something, but there are ways to join in. Come for a brew, use the loo, talk to us. I’m here most of the time. If you want to tell me what would make you feel comfy crossing one of our thresholds – I’d love that. So do get in touch.
See what’s in store at sheffieldtheatres.co.uk.
