Birmingham Hippodrome Theatre Trust has today, (Thu 23 Mar) welcomed Catherine Mallyon to the Board of Trustees. Catherine Mallyon has been Executive Director, a Governor and a Board member of the Royal Shakespeare Company since 2012.

Catherine was previously Deputy Chief Executive of Southbank Centre, leading all Southbank Centre operational activity, including the reopening of Royal Festival Hall after refurbishment in 2007 and the renewal of Hayward Gallery in 2010. In her earlier career in arts management, Catherine was General Manager of Arts and Theatres at Reading Borough Council. There she managed all theatre and arts operations, programmed drama and classical music for the Hexagon and Concert Hall and co-produced the WOMAD festival. Prior to that, she was General Manager at the Oxford Playhouse and had the same role at the Towngate Theatre, Basildon.

Catherine has been on the Boards/Councils of Arts Council England (ACE), and a member of their Performance and Audit Committee; Society of London Theatre (SOLT); the West Midlands Combined Authority Cultural Leadership Board (WMCA); Coventry and Warwickshire Local Enterprise Partnership (CWLEP), as Chair of their Culture and Tourism Business Group; the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) and the Creative Industries Federation. 

Catherine is Chair of the Advisory Board for the Bristol + Bath Creative Cluster R&D and a member of advisory councils of the Centre for Cultural Value (having completed a term as Chair), the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust and the Orchestra of the Swan.

Having spent five years working in the City of London as a trader and analyst, Catherine trained in general arts administration on Arts Council England's bursary programme. She plays the violin in local orchestras and chamber groups.

Catherine is an Honorary Fellow of St John’s College, University of Oxford and was awarded a CBE in the Queens Platinum Jubilee Birthday Honours list.

Jon Gilchrist, Artistic Director and CEO of Birmingham Hippodrome said: “It’s a privilege to welcome Catherine to the Hippodrome board. I’ve had a huge admiration for her for many years: as a strategic voice for theatre, and as a champion for the arts in the West Midlands. She is the perfect addition to what is already an extraordinary board. I look forward to working with her as the Hippodrome prepares to announce an ambitious new five-year strategy to capitalise on this special time for the arts in the region.”

Glenn Howells, Chair of the Birmingham Hippodrome Trust Theatre Board said: “We are absolutely delighted that Catherine will be joining us. Her experience nationally, regionally and in performing arts will be a huge asset for our organisation as we embark on ambitious plans for growth and development.”

Catherine added: “I am thrilled to be joining the Hippodrome board, and I look forward enormously to working with the voluntary trustees in supporting the team to deliver more Hippodrome “goosebumps moments”.