Storyhouse in Chester have today confirmed the upcoming departure of founding artistic director Alex Clifton, who steps down from the position in August.

Clifton departs Storyhouse to take up a senior position with Hong Kong Disneyland resort. Clifton has been with the company since 2010, firstly founding Grosvenor Park Open Air Theatre and then, full-time since 2015, leading the creation of Storyhouse’s new £37m theatre which opened in Chester in 2017.

Clifton said: “I’ve had the most glorious eleven years working with Andrew and the team at Storyhouse; we’ve built something together that I’ll forever be proud of, in a community I love. Like all the best journeys, it has forged lifelong friendships that will come with me into the adventures ahead. Like all good departures, it opens more doors than it closes, as Andrew and his team forge an ever-more inclusive, creative Storyhouse for Chester.”

CEO Andrew Bentley said: “Alex and I have been together ever since we opened our first show in Grosvenor Park, and dreamed of something even more amazing. Alex has shown our industry how creative ambition can be elevated by placing communities first, and how resilience can be built, but only in the same way.

“Alex is leaving us in great shape, even in these tough times.  His drive at Storyhouse has been to champion inclusiveness and the power of young people and of our community.  The creative journey is our work, the opportunity to also make great art as well, a treat.  We’ll be protecting that legacy by elevating creative communities and further diversifying the voices that that make our work.” 

With Clifton’s departure in August, the theatre is now actively recruiting a creative director for the venue, along with a new senior programming role.

Storyhouse is amongst the venues that recently reopened in wake of Government’s reopening of theatres. They are currently running programming in both the main indoor venue itself, as well as outside at the Grosvenor Park Open Air Theatre.