Published on 19/04/18

By Music Theatre Wales

 

Music Theatre Wales Appoints New Chair of the Board

Published on 19/04/18

By Music Theatre Wales

Music Theatre Wales, the UK’s leading contemporary opera company has appointed a new Chair.

Christine Bradwell is taking up the voluntary position with immediate effect, succeeding Geraint Davies CBE, who has stepped down after eleven years as Chair.

Christine has had a long and distinguished career in the arts. Later this month she retires from her role as Chief Executive at Anvil Arts in Basingstoke where she has overseen the largest performing arts organisation in Hampshire, running The Anvil, The Haymarket and The Forge.

Her association and passion for Music Theatre Wales’ work has grown through the company’s long-standing artistic association with The Anvil. In October this year, the Anvil will host Music Theatre Wales’ next production, the UK premiere of PASSION, a dance opera by French composer, Pascal Dusapin. Music Theatre Wales is recognised as a vital force in UK opera, presenting new work on an intimate scale that is bold, exciting and different and characterised by the powerful impact it makes on audiences and artists alike.

As well as extensive board experience both as Trustee and Chair, Christine’s former roles include Drama and Dance Director at The British Council. In the role of Chair at Music Theatre Wales, she will work closely with the Chief Executive while providing leadership for the Board to ensure its effective governance of the company. The position is for a three-year term with the opportunity of it being extended for a further three years.

Christine Bradwell said

‘I am thrilled and flattered to become Chair of Music Theatre Wales. This is a company I have long admired, for the work they have created and the way in which they operate. Music Theatre Wales has long been a model of artistic ambition, delivering performances of the highest standards, and I very much look forward to working with them as they continue to evolve and challenge perceptions of what opera and music theatre can be.’

MTW Artistic Director Michael McCarthy said

‘I am absolutely delighted that Christine is joining us as Chair of MTW. She has known and supported our work ever since we first performed at The Anvil in 1998 with “Punch and Judy” and has always been a keen advocate of our work and friend of the company. She will bring a wealth of artistic and arts management skills to the company and it is especially rewarding to know that she will also be reconnecting with Cardiff and Wales from her earlier performing days with Moving Being.’

For more information about Music Theatre Wales visit musictheatrewales.org.uk

PRESS CONTACT:

UK National and Wales:
Penny James, Freelance Publicist
penny.james@btopenworld.com
07854 114 782

Music Theatre Wales

Based in Cardiff, Music Theatre Wales is the UK’s leading contemporary opera company. By commissioning outstanding composers and writers, developing the opera creators of the future and presenting works by the world’s most important contemporary composers – including Harrison Birtwistle, Peter Maxwell Davies, Philip Glass, Michael Tippett, Peter Eötvös, Philippe Boesmans - the company brings vibrant new opera to audiences across Wales, the UK and internationally.

Since 1988 MTW has created over 30 productions and presented 15 world premieres. It has an established programme to help nurture new opera composers and it has created productions with a wide range of partners including Opera National du Rhin in Strasbourg, the Berlin Festival, Opera Vest in Norway, Banff Centre in Canada, Theatr Brycheiniog in Brecon, Haarlem Theatre in The Netherlands, Treffpunkt in Stuttgart, Theater Magdeburg in Germany, Scottish Opera and the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden.

MTW’s production of Greek by Mark-Anthony Turnage won Outstanding Achievement in Opera at the 2011 TMA Theatre Awards and in March 2013, Ghost Patrol by Stuart MacRae and Louise Welsh won the South Bank Sky Arts Award for opera and, as part of a double-bill with In the Locked Room by Huw Watkins, was nominated for an Olivier award for outstanding achievement in opera (co-production with Scottish Opera). Artistic Director Michael McCarthy was awarded Best Director at the 2015 Wales Theatre %p Awards for his production of Philip Glass’s The Trial, and the co-founders of MTW – Michael McCarthy and Michael Rafferty – were awarded MBEs in the 2016 Queen’s New Year Honours.

MTW has been recorded on CD and broadcast on BBC Radio 3, and several of its productions have toured internationally. In April 2017 The Golden Dragon by Peter Eötvös was presented by the Tongyeong International Music Festival in South Korea and toured the UK in the autumn of 2017. In June 2017, The Trial received its USA premiere at Opera Theatre St Louis in Michael McCarthy’s production. Music Theatre Wales’s CD of The Trial was released in December 2017.