Birmingham Repertory Theatre have announced the appointment of Andy Street CBE as the new Chair of the Board.
Andy has made an impressive impact in his roles, most recently as Mayor of the West Midlands from 2017 to 2024. His leadership was instrumental in establishing the West Midlands Combined Authority and attracting significant public and private investment to the region. Before this, Andy’s tenure as managing director of John Lewis was marked by remarkable success, guiding the employee-owned business through one of its most prosperous periods and earning it the title of Britain’s most trusted brand.
In Birmingham, Andy’s contributions were equally noteworthy as chair of the Greater Birmingham and Solihull Local Enterprise Partnership from 2011 to 2016. He played a key role in creating Britain’s most successful enterprise zone in Birmingham city centre. Additionally, his service as Vice-Chair of Performances Birmingham highlights his unwavering support for arts and culture, which he passionately champions as vital to telling Birmingham’s story and enriching its community life.
Andy will bring his wealth of experience in the public and private sectors to support the theatre at an exciting time, as shortly The Rep will be appointing a new Artistic Director to work alongside Chief Executive Rachael Thomas and the new Chair to propel the theatre into the next stage of its development.
Andy said of his appointment: “It is a huge honour to be asked to chair one of my home city’s great cultural institutions, and one that I am personally a huge believer in. Arts and culture are mission critical to the success and the story of Birmingham, and The Rep is right at the heart of that.
“But whilst the theatre has a strong reputation locally, I believe we could be doing much more nationally and perhaps indeed internationally. Working with Rachael, her team, and the rest of the board, I intend to help make The Rep the best regional theatre in Europe.
“With my next career move potentially taking me into a national position I was determined to keep strong ties to Birmingham, and I couldn’t have wished for a better way to do that than by chairing The Rep. I cannot wait to officially get started.”
Rachael Thomas, Chief Executive of The Rep, added: “We’re delighted that Andy Street is joining The Rep as the next Chair of the Board of Trustees. Andy’s passion for Birmingham and culture is well known: he lives in the city and as Mayor was a tireless advocate for the cultural sector, recognising the benefits a vibrant sector brings to the region.
“Over the years he’s also been a regular visitor to The Rep and knows our work well, seeing work across all three of our stages – from large scale theatre productions in The House to one man shows in The Door.
“Together with the whole team here, I look forward to working with Andy to ensure that The Rep continues to be recognised as one of the most dynamic and exciting producing theatres in the country.”
Andy Street formally takes up his role as Chair of the Board on 1st November.
As the sole producing theatre in the UK’s vibrant Second City, The Rep is not just a historic landmark but also an inspiring forerunner to both the RSC and National Theatre. With an unwavering mission to craft artistically ambitious, world-class theatre accessible to all, The Rep places new work at its heart—having brought over 130 new plays to life in just 15 years.
Every year, more than 60 productions grace its three stages while also captivating audiences across national and international tours. Its acclaimed learning and outreach programme stands as one of the most extensive and diverse among arts organisations nationwide. Throughout its illustrious history, The Rep has been a nurturing ground for talent—from legends like Laurence Olivier and Peter Brook to today’s emerging artists through initiatives like the youth theatre and groundbreaking Rep Foundry programme.
Many of The Rep’s productions transcend Birmingham’s borders; notably, their enduring production of *The Snowman* celebrated three decades alongside its upcoming 27th season at London’s Peacock Theatre. Since 2021 alone, tours such as *Of Mice and Men*, *Idiots Assemble: Spitting Image the Musical*, *The Way Old Friends Do*, *The Play What I Wrote*, *Animal Farm*, and *East is East* have continued this legacy of inspiration beyond their home stage.
https://www.birmingham-rep.co.uk