Director Of Tobacco Factory Moves To Kneehigh Theatre

Ali Robertson After eight years at Tobacco Factory Theatres, director Ali Robertson has announced his new appointment as executive producer at the acclaimed Kneehigh Theatre. Robertson said: “I have enjoyed eight fantastic years as Director of Tobacco Factory Theatres and believe it has become one of the foremost producing and presenting theatres in the country. “Under the direction of an exceptional staff and board the theatre works with a range of superb artists and has a phenomenal relationship with its many audiences. “It has played a critical part in the growth of Bristol and the south west as one of the best places to make work in the country and I look forward to continuing to see many shows here in the coming years.”

During his time at Tobacco Factory Theatres, where he started in August 2007, the organisation has grown substantially and achieved numerous successes.

The organisation has built itself a second theatre, installed one of the largest renewable energy systems of any arts organisation in the UK, produced and co-produced over forty shows that have toured nationally and internationally, and brought work from around the world to Bristol.

Highlights include co- producing the Olivier-nominated and Off West End Award-winning Cinderella: A Fairytale and the Sky Arts Award-winning Dracula.

The board of trustees and all staff at Tobacco Factory Theatres said: “We will be very sorry to see Ali go but are thrilled for him that he is going on to such an outstanding organisation and would like to wish him all the best.”

Kneehigh are a UK-based theatre company with a local, national and international profile. For 35 years they have created vigorous, popular and challenging theatre and perform with a joyful anarchy. Based in Cornwall in breath-taking barns on the south coast they create theatre of humanity on an epic and tiny scale. They work with an ever-changing ensemble of performers, artists, technicians, administrators, makers and musicians and are passionate about our multi-disciplined creative process.

Robertson moves to Kneehigh this summer and Tobacco Factory Theatres will be recruiting for his successor in the meantime.