Last updated 15:41, Wednesday, 05 November 2008

GIVEN his long-standing passion for Rosehill Theatre, Richard Elder’s new role as director certainly seems fitting. Rachel Suddart is the new marketing and development officer at Rosehill, and like Richard has a long association with the theatre.

looking forward: Rachel Suddart and Richard Elder at Rosehill Theatre

As a teenager he would travel from his home in Dumfriesshire to Whitehaven, such was his love for the venue and its eclectic programme.

“Rosehill Theatre was one of the informative influences when I was young,” he says. “The programming was amazing. Anybody that was anybody in the sixties and seventies would go there to see names like Jacqueline Du Pre and Cleo Lane. It really was a glittering array of people.

“I was also fascinated by opera when I was growing up. While I was still at school I read a review of the memoirs of Rudolph Bing (opera singer who helped found the Glyndebourne Festival Opera and organised the first Edinburgh Festival).

“I didn’t have to read the book, the review was a sufficient introduction to the world I knew I’d be interested in working in. I phoned opera companies to ask how to get into it, but they recommended I try something else first.”

Which he did. He trained in personnel management and worked at a packaging company in London for 10 years.

Then he started working at English National Opera, as head of personnel, which broadened into director of administration.

Richard, 53, stayed in that job for 10 years, producing major theatre productions around the globe, before becoming executive director of the Royal Academy of Art.

But though he loved London he was looking to move back up north, and saw the job at Rosehill advertised. He succeeded Karen Thompson as director in the summer.

“It’s smaller than anything I have been used to, but I didn’t think twice. It has such a grand past, but also there are the redevelopment plans which are very exciting. I also have a great love of the countryside and the seaside.

“It will be a challenging role. I want to work hard with who we are and what our brand is so we can hit high levels, which is what Rosehill has always been about.

“We want to do more with younger people and make it more accessible, to work with education and outreach programmes, to develop a good awareness for drama and have more jazz and comedy. I am also keen to redevelop classical music here, which has been so successful in the past. All of this costs money of course, so we will have to raise the necessary funds.”

Richard is tight-lipped about details of how the 50th anniversary will be marked, but adds: “The anniversary will be a good opportunity to not only look back on memories, but to look forward. We need to be exciting and innovative.”

She grew up in Workington and enjoyed trips to Rosehill as a child. In her early 20s Rachel left Cumbria to work in London as a travel writer, followed by six years in Newcastle as culture promotions manager at The Journal newspaper.

“I was very keen to come back here to Cumbria and had just been waiting for the right opportunity,” she says. “I wanted to settle here, it’s where my friends and family are.

“This is a fantastic opportunity to use my skills in another region. I think this is a great place to be at the moment, a really exciting time for West Cumbria.

“There’s a huge variety of things going on in the arts, like the Maritime Festival and Solfest, and it’s a great way for people to get together and enjoy things.”

“And of course it’s the 50th anniversary here. We have absolutely fantastic archives at the theatre, with photos of the theatre being built and the opening night. We’ll be promoting events for the anniversary in the New Year.”

The 32-year-old went to Keswick School and studied English Literature at the University of Manchester. Not long after she graduated she landed her dream job, working for Lonely Planet Publications in London.

Rachel is now also working part-time at Theatre by the Lake, as a marketing officer.

“It’s a really exciting time here,” she says. “There’s a fantastic film season at Rosehill this autumn and the Christmas season is ideal for both adults and children.

“I used to visit Rosehill all the time when I was young, and the Blue Box theatre in Keswick,” she says. “So I’ve come full circle really, and it’s fantastic.”

To find out what’s on visit www.rosehilltheatre.co.uk