Press Releases

CHIEF EXECUTIVE ANNOUNCED TO LAUNCH THE NEW WIMBLEDON THEATRE

Issued : 23 October 2003

CHIEF EXECUTIVE ANNOUNCED TO LAUNCH THE NEW WIMBLEDON THEATRE

The Ambassador Theatre Group (ATG) has appointed Karin Gartzke as Chief Executive to launch the New Wimbledon Theatre.

Karin will oversee the strategic running of the venue, including scheduling productions in collaboration with ATG's Programming Department. She will also be working closely with the new General Manager, who is yet to be appointed.

Karin is currently Business Development Director for ATG and Chief Executive of Richmond Theatre. Her new position re-launching Wimbledon will ensure that both theatres work closely together in terms of marketing and programming to guarantee the shows are complementary, and audiences in South West London are offered a high quality and diverse programme of entertainment. The New Wimbledon Theatre will be staging large-scale musicals, dance, ballet and comedy and Richmond will build on its historic success with high-quality drama.

Last month, ATG, Wimbledon Civic Theatre Trust and the London Borough of Merton signed the deal which secures the long-term future of the venue. The re-named New Wimbledon Theatre is due to re-open in early February 2004, when the highly-acclaimed Matthew Bourne's Nutcracker! becomes the first production at the theatre under ATG. An exciting new season is being planned which includes the brilliant comedy The Play What I Wrote and the smash hit musical Saturday Night Fever.

Karin Gartzke has already established an excellent knowledge of the venue during the past months and comes from a senior management position with ATG as Business Development Director. Karin has been instrumental in bringing the Wimbledon negotiations to a successful conclusion and has also been involved in overseeing the expansion of ATG into Britain's second largest theatre operator. She has substantial experience in the theatre and arts entertainment industry, having worked for many years in touring theatre before spending 10 years with the Arts Council of England, where she was responsible for Arts Council revenue and franchise-funded theatre companies. She also held the position of Deputy Director of Performing Arts at the South Bank Centre. Karin has lived with her family in South West London for over 16 years.

Rosemary Squire, Executive Director, ATG
We are delighted that Karin will be Chief Executive to launch the New Wimbledon Theatre. Over the past 7 years, she has been an incredible asset to ATG and her wealth of experience combined with her leadership, vision and commitment will be a tremendous benefit to the theatre.

Karin Gartzke
Living in South West London, I know only too well how important the New Wimbledon Theatre is both regionally and nationally. As Chief Executive, my aim is to re-launch this magnificent venue to enable it to realise its full potential, making it one of the most vibrant and successful theatres in the country and staging the best variety of high quality entertainment.

ENDS
For more information, please contact John Chittenden, Group Press Officer, ATG on 01483 545822 / johnchittenden@theambassadors.com

Notes for editors:
ATG is renowned for its highly successful management of theatre venues throughout the UK and is currently the second biggest theatre group in the West End and separately, in the regions, with a total of 22 venues. It is also one of the country's foremost theatre producers and has been behind some of the most successful and innovative productions in Britain and internationally, currently including the award-winning Vincent in Brixton, See You Next Tuesday, Ed Hall's A Midsummer Night's Dream, After Mrs Rochester, Noises Off, The Rocky Horror Show and Stephen Poliakoff's Sweet Panic, starring Jane Horrocks.

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