Michael Divers

Michael Divers is people director at building contractor Sir Robert McAlpine Limited

Changing Faces

Theatre under regulatory inquiry appoints trustee as it looks to grow with ‘transparency’

Arts Professional
2 min read

MICHAEL DIVERS has joined the board at Seven Dials Playhouse as the theatre seeks to develop a long-term business model.

Currently people director at leading building contractor Sir Robert McAlpine Limited, his background includes senior roles within the public sector, including Glasgow City Council, Scottish Enterprise and the Student Loans Company.

He also led the HR consultancy division at TMP Worldwide, delivering services to major public and private-sector clients.

Formerly known as the Actors Centre, the Covent Garden-based Seven Dials Playhouse was founded in 1978 for working actors looking to continue their training.

The organisation used a subscription model, which the charity was forced to ditch in 2021, after losing half its membership in the pandemic.

The Charity Commission has been engaging with those running Seven Dials Playhouse since last year, regarding the July 2024 decision to sell and lease back the charity’s 100-seat theatre, as well as broader concerns about its finances and management.

In October, the watchdog appointed interim managers as part of a statutory inquiry to identify the charity’s assets and liabilities, assess viability, and determine whether its current business plan is “fit for purpose,” while the board continues to manage, administer, and govern the charity.

Seven Dials Playhouse said that while the inquiry continues, the charity is focused on “strengthening its governance, developing its long-term model, and ensuring it remains equipped to deliver upon its charitable purpose in a sustainable and future-facing way”, with Divers’ experience in governance, organisational culture and strategic workforce development set to support this work.

Divers said he was “delighted” to be joining the board, adding, “I look forward to contributing my vast experience to support the organisation’s continued growth and its commitment to a sustainable future for the community it serves.”

Chief executive AMANDA DAVEY said: “This is an important period for Seven Dials Playhouse and Michael’s appointment supports our aim to grow with clarity, transparency and confidence in the years ahead.”