Marianne Locatori on Shaping the Future of Newcastle Theatre Royal
For its Chief Executive Marianne Locatori, working at Newcastle Theatre Royal is anything but predictable.
“There’s no such thing as a typical day here!” she laughs. With a different touring production visiting almost every week, Marianne’s schedule is packed with activities in all aspects of the theatre’s operations; there is far more to this organisation than what is on its stage…
As the leader of an independent, not-for-profit charitable trust, she’s responsible for steering the overall strategic direction of the Grade 1 listed venue. “I spend a lot of time forging new and managing existing relationships with producers, supporters and stakeholders,” she explains. These relationships are crucial, especially in a region where access to the highest-quality cultural experiences hasn’t always been available.
Marianne’s responsibilities also extend to planning the Theatre’s creative programme, a process that requires coordinating production schedules with delicate precision. “I’m currently working two to three years in advance, liaising with producers to schedule shows into our already very busy calendar,” she says. This forward planning is her key to maintaining a vibrant, fresh and diverse program that appeals to a wide range of theatregoers here in the North East.
She frequently travels to London to scout potential shows and meet with West End producers. “Seeing productions in London helps me decide what might work for our audience here in Newcastle. It’s also a great opportunity to meet with producers and stay informed about their future plans!” she adds.
Theatre, Marianne believes, is more than just entertainment. “Beyond fostering belonging and making a meaningful impact on communities, theatre has the potential to bring joy, challenge beliefs, ask questions of society, and allow stories to be told,” she says.
Improving accessibility and ensuring talent development opportunities are made available within the creative sector in the North East is particularly important to her, evidenced in Newcastle Theatre Royal’s commitment to maintaining the development of its Creative Engagement programme which involves people of all ages and abilities.
Since reopening after the pandemic, broadening the Theatre’s income streams by seeking new revenue from commercial operations, corporate sponsorships and grants has been a priority for Marianne. “Mitigating the risk of increased costs and stretched resources to secure the Theatre’s financial resilience means we can continue to invest in projects like our heavily subsidised Creative Engagement activities,” she explains.
Her passion for the arts is evident as she talks about the role of regional theatres like Newcastle Theatre Royal as a vessel to drive social and cultural change. “Regional theatres are essential in providing creative and cultural opportunities. Here at Newcastle Theatre Royal, we bring world-class, large-scale theatre to the region, so people can enjoy top-quality performances on their doorstep,” she says.
The Theatre’s Creative Engagement programme forms a significant part of this vision. Marianne explains with pride; “We engage with everyone, from young people to professional artists, through performing arts-based projects that help develop talent and support well-being across the community.”
This work is crucial in nurturing the next generation of creative talent, particularly following the decline in cultural education in schools over the last decade. “There is a generation of young people who are unaware of the breadth of opportunities in the creative industries,” she notes, adding that her aim is for Newcastle Theatre Royal to prioritise talent development and access to creative careers for young people in the North East.
Looking ahead, her ambition for Newcastle Theatre Royal is bold, yet rooted in her own affection for the arts. “Our goal is to create a lifelong love of theatre for everyone in the North East. We have ambitious plans to expand our reach, support artists, and bring exciting collaborations to our stage,” she reveals.
Signs of its success are already evident – reflected in the two coproductions announced earlier this year which mark a significant milestone for the theatre. “In February, we announced our first coproduction in over a decade: West End hit, Pride and Prejudice* (*sort of) (Thu 19 – Sat 28 Sep), which was followed only weeks later by the announcement of another – local success story, Gerry & Sewell (Wed 2 – Sat 5 Oct),” Marianne shares.
These co-productions not only highlight the theatre’s creative ambition but also demonstrate its commitment to nurturing talent. “Auditions for both productions took place at the Theatre, supporting our ongoing aim to be positioned at the forefront of cultural creativity in the sector, both locally and nationally,” she says.
The iconic venue standing proudly on Grey Street in the heart of the city is testament to this mission. “We’re just curators of this space for a period of time. There were people before us, and people will come after,” Marianne reflects. With 25 years of experience in arts venues across the country, it’s clear that under her leadership, Newcastle Theatre Royal is poised for continued success.
Find out more at www.theatreroyal.co.uk
