Artistic Director, Kevin Lewis, is stepping down from his role at the Cardiff based theatre company after 27 years. He is leaving Theatr Iolo at the end of March 2018 to pursue new opportunities after nearly three decades creating award-winning theatre productions for children and young people.
During his time at Theatr Iolo he has created over 70 productions and toured work developed in Wales across the UK and the world.
Highlights during his tenure include being the first Welsh theatre company to perform at Sydney Opera House, developing a series of world-renowned projects for the very young with Sarah Argent, and winning several awards including a Beacon of Excellence Award by Arts Council of Wales, a Tron Award for Best Play for Young People for ‘Bison and Sons’ and a Theatre Critics of Wales Award for Best Play for Children for ‘Grimm Tales’.
Of his time at the company, he said: “I have been so lucky and privileged to have been Artistic Director of Theatr Iolo for the last 27 years and, in the company’s 30th birthday year, I feel it is now time for me to move on.
“I am indebted to the hundreds of talented and passionate colleagues with whom I’ve worked over the years to create and present and sometimes perform theatre that has delighted, stimulated, and transported tens of thousands of children and young people and their teachers and families.
“I am also hugely grateful to the colleagues across the globe (many of whom have become dear friends, one of whom became my wife!) with whom I have collaborated and talked into the night about our shared passion for the most important of audiences.
“I am particularly indebted to the children, young people, and teachers we have worked with whose thoughts, ideas and experiences have inspired and shaped the work we do. I would also like to thank the Theatr Iolo board for their support over the years, Cardiff Council and Arts Council of Wales whose funding has enabled the work to happen.
“It is time for a new Artistic Director to lead the company and I am most excited to see how the company will develop under their leadership.”
As Theatr Iolo embarks on its 30th anniversary, the charity is now seeking to recruit a new Artistic Director to develop the artistic direction of the company for the next 30 years, while continuing to deliver artistic experiences of the highest quality for children and young people across Wales.
Rebecca Gould, Chair of the board of Theatr Iolo, said: “After 27 years with the company, we are naturally sad to see Kevin leave Theatr Iolo.
“Under his artistic direction, the company has gone from strength to strength and he has played a hugely important role in the development of children’s theatre in Wales and beyond.
“We are very grateful for all that he has brought to the company and wish him well for the future.
“While he is leaving us in his current role, we look forward to continuing our association with him.
“As we celebrate Theatr Iolo’s 30th anniversary it is an exciting time for someone new to come in and lead and shape the next chapter of our story.”
Theatr Iolo will be recruiting during April and information will be available at www.theatriolo.com
I have had the joy of knowing Kevin Lewis for 30 years and of working with him on a few occasions in the past and I’d like to leave this reply for him to see …
Thank you for the opportunities you gave me Kevin – some of the very best experiences in YPT – and for the opportunities you have given to many others in our profession.
I applaud your steadfast commitment to creating quality, memorable theatre for children and young people for the past 27 years plus.
TIE and YPT in Wales would have been so much poorer without you.
Now we in the freelance world welcome and embrace you!
Is it at last time for the “Abbott and Bessie” show I ask with great excitement?!
Should I be locating an unhinged door?!
Good luck Kevin.
Erica x