London theatre chair departs after 25 years of ‘treasured’ work

Camberwell’s Blue Elephant Theatre will say goodbye to one of its original trustees, who leaves after supporting the venue for a quarter of a century.

CHRIS LAWRENCE will depart as chair of the Southwark-based arts venue’s board, expressing gratitude for his time and “greatly treasured” experiences there alongside more anxious memories of navigating a “continuing precarious financial” position.

Lawrence is succeeded in the role by current co-deputy chair, PAUL LANGTON.

“I have very fond memories of some excellent productions and excellent youth theatre workshops, but too often these memories are tinged with the anxiety of a continuing precarious financial situation for the theatre,” Lawrence said.

“I would like to thank the extremely hard-working and talented staff who have seen the theatre through absolutely amazingly for twenty-five years (so far) and also my fellow trustees, who are some of the nicest people I have known: all of these extraordinary people have taught me so much and offered me such great support in my role as chair.”

Founded in 1999 by Antonio Ribeiro, Blue Elephant Theatre produces what it calls an “eclectic programme” of new work across the performing arts, ranging from dance and physical theatre to “revamped classics”.

Its current artistic and executive director is NIAMH DE VALERA.