Theatre leaders reappointed as Arts Council England members

Culture Secretary LISA NANDY has reappointed the CEO of Marlowe Theatre, Canterbury, DEBORAH SHAW and the deputy chair of English Touring Opera, WILLIAM BUSH, as National Council Members for Arts Council England (ACE).

As CEO of Marlowe Theatre, Shaw has overseen a new business model to bring together the subsidised and commercial sectors, and has set up Marlowe Theatre Productions to make and tour large-scale theatre.

She also led on the development of the 800-year-old Poor Priests’ Hospital into a creative learning centre and heritage destination in Marlowe.

With over 30 years’ experience in regional, national and international theatre, Shaw has held leadership roles at Watford Palace and Chester Gateway theatres, as well as being associate director at the Royal Shakespeare Company for eight years.

Also reappointed, Bush is a trustee of Civic Future, a charity dedicated to strengthening civic society and democracy through improving the quality of public leadership.

Bush recently stepped down as chair of the Alliance for Intellectual Property and as a board member of the Football Foundation.

He worked as executive director and then senior advisor at the Premier League for 20 years, where he led areas including intellectual property, public policy, relations with the government and the EU and the community programme.

Their second four-year terms started on 15 May this year.