Theatre boss steps up to main stage
A NEW boss has taken the spotlight at the Theatre Royal, which has appointed drama buff Simon Wellington into the role of chief executive officer.
He will have one tough act to follow, with outgoing CEO Tim Munro stepping down after 17 years of running the show.
Mr Wellington’s love of the arts began at the age of 23, when he “ran away” from a finance and accounting degree to start work at the Salamanca Theatre Company.
The travelling troupe performed in schools around Tasmania and it was during his travels that Mr Wellington became enamoured with theatre life.
“I just fell in love with it. I felt like I’d found my tribe, this great creative environment where you could do anything and make anything. That’s what initially excited me,” he said.
“Culture takes us closer to the ideas and stories about our life. Part of my love and fascination with arts and culture are the things we can learn about ourselves and others.”
Mr Wellington took up an arts residency in Indonesia, later travelling around the world working for various arts and cultural institutions.
His travels eventually took him back to Tasmania, where he took up the role of program manager for Ten Days on the Island.
“When you grow up in Tasmania you often spend a lot of time wanting to leave and have a different experience, but coming back to Ten Days in the Island I got to go all around the state,” Mr Wellington said.
“You learn so much about the place in the process, and
all of a sudden I fell back in love with Tasmania, the place I grew up in, and discovered all those things I never knew.”
Arts Minister Elise Archer said she had no doubt that the newly redeveloped Theatre Royal was in good hands.
“Mr Wellington is a familiar and respected figure in Tasmania’s theatre community, having previously
worked at Salamanca Arts Centre and at Ten Days on the Island,” Ms Archer said.
“The transformational redevelopment to establish The Hedberg complex has delivered a world-class facility that will play a key role in enhancing Tasmania’s position as a leader across the creative, performing and digital arts for many years to come.”