Introducing Helen Eastman, Creation’s new Artistic Director and Chief Executive
Creation Theatre appoints new Chief Executive
Creation Theatre is pleased to announce that Helen Eastman has been appointed as Chief Executive to take over from Lucy Askew.
Helen Eastman has over twenty years’ experience in the arts sector as a producer, writer and director of theatre. Since graduating from Corpus Christi College she has worked in Oxford, London and across the UK, and internationally. She is passionate about community engagement, education and outreach.
Helen is an award-winning writer and director of theatre, opera and film, known for her work with classic texts, and her family theatre. In Oxford she has created The Wind in the Willows for Creation, five Christmas shows in the Burton Taylor for Oxford Playhouse, the Oxford poetry walk and Bicycle Boy (the bike powered musical) for Playhouse Plays Out. She is associate artist of the APGRD at Oxford University. Further afield, she has directed work for the National Theatre Studio, Glasgow Citz, Circus Space, Trafalgar Studios, Hackney Empire, ETO, Reading Rep, Delphi International Festival and Symphony Space (New York). She has been classics advisor to shows in the West End and at the National Theatre, and adapted CBeebies’ ‘In the Night Garden’ and ‘Bing’ for the stage.
Helen Eastman said: “I am delighted to have the opportunity to lead Creation on the next stage of their journey. I want to gather people to enjoy live theatre and come together as a community. I want that work to be accessible, diverse and joyful and to spring up in unexpected corners of Oxford, catering to both the seasoned theatre-goer and the new-comer.”
Chair of Creation Trustees, Julia Iball, said: “I am delighted that Helen is joining us. She brings a wealth of experience and has great ideas for our rep company and our work with young people. I am looking forward to seeing some exciting theatre.” Paying tribute to outgoing CEO Lucy Askew, she added: “We are full of admiration and gratitude for Lucy Askew’s inspirational leadership and innovation in her fifteen years atCreation Theatre (ten years as CEO), and special mention should go to her calm and indeed pioneering stewardship of Creation through the pandemic.”
Helen and Creation Theatre look forward to bringing joy to audiences through 2023 and far beyond. Join us this summer for Much Ado About Nothing which runs from 12th July to 19th August at South Oxford Adventure Playground and for A Christmas Carol in December.