The Actors Touring Company has announced that Matthew Xia is to become the new artistic director.

Xia, a former associate director of Manchester’s Royal Exchange Theatre, takes the position at ATC part-time from December, and full time in March. Xia’s credits include WISH LIST at Royal Exchange and Royal Court, FRANKENSTEIN at Royal Exchange, DUBLIN CAROL at Sherman Theatre and SHEBEEN at Nottingham Playhouse and Theatre Royal Stratford East.

Xia said: ‘It’s an honour to be appointed artistic director of ATC. At a time when difference, identity and borders shape our experiences, ATC plays a crucial role in offering a global perspective – developing and touring innovative theatre from writers across the world.

“I look forward to finding and presenting new international voices to diverse communities in the UK, as well as working with cosmopolitan British writers and introducing their work to international audiences. I’m thrilled to be joining the brilliant team at ATC and leading the company into a new phase of its evolution.’

Whilst at the Royal Exchange, Xia set up OPEN EXCHANGE, an artist development scheme with over 400 next generation theatre-makers. Previously, he was director in residence at the Liverpool Everyman & Playhouse and associate director at Theatre Royal Stratford East.

Xia has a number of upcoming projects around the UK. He will direct the world premiere of EDEN at Hampstead Downstairs in January, a major revival of BLOOD KNOT at the Orange Tree Theatre in March, and a new production of ONE NIGHT IN MIAMI at Nottingham Playhouse in June.

The director will lead the company alongside executive director Andrew Smaje .Xia replaces Ramin Gray who stepped down from the organisation in July this year.