Dundee’s Rep theatre is in “safe hands” according to its new CEO, who visited the city as his appointment to the top job was announced.
In an exclusive interview with The Courier, Nick Parr, the institution’s new chief executive officer said he was delighted to be coming to the city after working in Edinburgh.
He said: “This seemed a great opportunity to come to Dundee. There’s so much happening in this city. It is an exciting place to be with its focus on arts and culture.
“Dundee has incredible ambitions for the arts and culture sectors so I am very lucky to be coming at this time.
“For the last four years I’ve been at the Festival and King’s Theatre in Edinburgh working as part of a small management team getting that back on its feet.
“It was having a hard time four years ago so it was great to be part of that success story.”
Although he only accepted the job this week, Mr Parr, who has 20 years of theatre management experience, said he was delighted to be thrown in at the deep end with he came to visit the theatre on Thursday.
Mr Parr succeeds chief executive and joint artistic director Philip Howard, who earlier this year announced he is to step down from the role in the summer.
He will lead Dundee Rep Theatre Ltd solely in the role of chief executive, working with leading artistic directors Jemima Levick (Dundee Rep Theatre) and Fleur Darkin (Scottish Dance Theatre).
He said: “The Rep has a phenomenal reputation in the world and I want to maintain that.
“There are two amazing artistic directors, Fleur and Jemima, in post and the opportunity to work with them is fantastic. I couldn’t wish for a better team.
“I have spoken to Fleur and Jemima about the theatre being an incubator for culture and creativity and this building has such excitement and buzz about it.
“My job now is to enable them to continue the artistic excellence they have started here.”
Mr Parr added: “When I start in September I intend to spend time listening, observing and getting to know everyone.
“What I will bring to the Rep is the opportunity to bring stability to the organisation. I’m an enabler. It’s all the boring stuff. The interesting stuff that’s Fleur and Jemima’s job.
“I want them to be confident when they are out working that they don’t have to worry because I’ve got all the behind-the-scenes stuff taken care of. The theatre is going to be in safe hands.”
He added: “The welcome here has been fantastic I can’t wait to get back.”
Peter Inglis, chairman of Dundee Rep Theatre Ltd, said: “We are delighted to welcome Nick Parr to DRTL. He brings a wealth of experience of the UK arts and culture industry to Dundee Rep at an exciting time in the development for our organisation and the city.”