Punchdrunk Enrichment has announced the appointment of Randel Bryan as its new Chair, marking a significant leadership moment for the pioneering immersive theatre company focused on young audiences.
Bryan will take up the role on 15 July, succeeding current Chair Ben Connah, who steps down after helping to shape the charity’s recent growth.
Punchdrunk Enrichment, founded in 2008, has reached more than 200,000 people through its innovative work in schools and communities, creating immersive experiences that place audiences at the centre of the story.
Randel Bryan said: “Punchdrunk Enrichment does something truly remarkable — it puts young people at the centre of the story, quite literally. Through immersive theatre and storytelling, it reaches children who may not believe they have a voice and shows them they do. That unlocks something profound: curiosity, creativity, a sense of possibility. I’ve seen what happens when a young person discovers they can be the star of their own show — it changes everything. I can’t wait to help support and grow the charity’s ambitions, because every child’s imagination, given the right stage, really can go on to change the world.”
Bryan brings extensive experience across major cultural and commercial organisations, having held senior roles at Universal Pictures, Endemol Shine and Factory International, where he helped launch Manchester’s Aviva Studios. He is currently Vice President of London Tech Week and has also served as Managing Director of SXSW London.
Steve McCourt, Artistic Director of Punchdrunk Enrichment, said: “We’re thrilled to welcome Randel Bryan to Punchdrunk Enrichment as Chair. Randel’s history of innovation, collaboration and community speaks to the heart of what we do. I’m looking forward to working closely with him and the board, as we embark on our next journey; one that will reinvent immersive theatre once more for audiences in our home in Brent, nationally and internationally.
“On behalf of everyone at Punchdrunk Enrichment I’d also like to say an enormous thanks to our current Chair Ben Connah for the time, wisdom and support he has given. He has played a major role in helping to a make a stronger and more ambitious future for the charity.”
The announcement comes as the organisation continues to expand its programme, including a newly revealed collaboration with the London Museum, which will see a major immersive experience for families debut in the museum’s new Smithfield galleries from January 2027.
Punchdrunk Enrichment is also developing new productions for national and international touring, alongside a renewed focus on immersive learning projects for SEND students in both mainstream and specialist settings.
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