Award-Winning Playwright Garry Lyons joins Theatre Royal Wakefield’s Board
Award-winning playwright, screenwriter and Course Leader, Garry Lyons joins the Board of Directors at Theatre Royal Wakefield.
Garry Lyons, Course Leader of the MA Writing for Performance and Publication in the School of Performance and Cultural Industries at the University of Leeds, has more than 40 years’ experience in the arts and media industries and has written for theatres throughout the UK, including the National Theatre, and extensively for television and radio.
His links to Theatre Royal Wakefield begin in 1987, where one of his earliest plays Irish Night was staged there. Since then he has written scripts for The Bill, Heartbeat and Soldier Soldier. He also wrote five seasons of The Worst Witch franchise for ITV, which was BAFTA-nominated and screened in 60 countries. His most recent play, The Last Seam, was presented at Theatre Royal Wakefield’s Walker Studio in Autumn 2018.
On his appointment, Gill Galdins, Chair of the Board, said “On behalf of everyone at Theatre Royal Wakefield, we are delighted to welcome Garry to the Board. His experience, energy and expertise will help us in fulfilling our mission at Theatre Royal Wakefield; to develop new creative opportunities and experiences and encourage high quality engagement across a broad sector of the Performing Arts”.
Lyons said “Theatre Royal Wakefield is going through an exciting period of development and success, with the opening of The Walker Studio, the residency of the John Godber Company, the expansion of its youth theatre and community programmes, and a lot more. I’m greatly looking forward to being a part of it.”
Professor Frank Finlay, Director of the University of Leeds’ Cultural Institute and Executive Dean of its Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Cultures, said: “Boards of trustees play an essential role in the life of arts and cultural organisations, and it is always great to hear that University of Leeds colleagues are able contribute their experience and expertise. I wish Garry all the very best”.
To find out more about Theatre Royal Wakefield, visit theatreroyalwakefield.co.uk
