Polka Theatre for Children has today announced the appointment of Lynette Shanbury as Executive Director and joint CEO. Shanbury is currently Executive Director of Spare Tyre and will be joining Polka in August, following the retirement of Stephen Midlane, who steps down after 41 years with the company.
Shanbury brings with her a wealth of experience built up over more than 15 years in theatre. She is currently Executive Director of Spare Tyre, a leading participatory arts charity which produces theatre with ‘voiceless communities’ including adults with learning disabilities, dementia, carers and women who have experience of violence. Prior to this, Shanbury was Executive Director at Little Angel Theatre in Islington where she worked for eight years. As Executive Director, she will be joint CEO with Polka’s Artistic Director, Peter Glanville.
Commenting on the appointment, Sarah King, Chair of Trustees at Polka Theatre, said “Stephen Midlane leaves big shoes to fill so we could not be more delighted Lynette will be joining us. She has clearly achieved an enormous amount at Spare Tyre, which like Polka, is an Arts Council National Portfolio Organisation. With an ambitious capital project underway, attracting someone of Lynette’s calibre was key. She brings that rare combination: strategic flare and organisational ability combined with a genuine commitment to children’s theatre and the values that are so central to Polka.”
Lynette Shanbury added “I am thrilled to be joining Polka at this pivotal moment in its history. Polka Theatre has a very special place in the ecology of the UK theatre sector. It manages to balance being a theatre company of national and international significance, producing innovative and ambitious new work, whilst still being absolutely grounded in its local community. It is a much-loved venue that genuinely has children at its heart. I cannot think of a better place to continue my career, being inspired every day by the children who flock through the theatre’s doors.”
