Although closed for refurbishments until March, Scarborough’s Stephen Joseph Theatre is going boldly into the new year after an extremely successful 2017 - which boasted the best summer season in a decade, a sell-out autumn half-term show, and a Christmas show for which audience figures increased by over 10% on the previous year.

Clearly, the 63-year-old theatre is flourishing under the new leadership of Chief Executive Stephen Freeman and Artistic Director Paul Robinson both of whom have been in post for just over 18 months. In 2018, Lotte Wakeham, who guest-directed last summer’s Di and Viv and Rose, joins the team as Associate Artistic Director, thanks to funding from Arts Council England and Backstage Trust.

Scarborough Theatre Trust Ltd., which runs the SJT, has a new chair in Helen Boaden who until recently was Director of BBC Radio. Helen replaces Richard Grunwell, who stepped down after completing his statutory period in the post.

The refurbishments, part-funded by an Arts Council grant, include improvements to the front of house areas; a new, state-of the-art environmentally friendly LED lighting system in the Round, which will lower energy bills; and various smaller projects.

The SJT’s Chief Executive, Stephen Freeman says: “This is just the start of our plans for the next five years. We will be absolutely focused on opening up the theatre, and investing in the best possible art – bringing brilliant artists to Scarborough, supporting artists from Scarborough to be brilliant, and building strong, surprising, exciting relationships with audiences.”

Artistic Director Paul Robinson adds: “There’s been a real buzz around our productions recently, with our hugely successful summer season. We’re also commissioning more work from new playwrights and making the SJT a more accessible resource for artists, both locally and across the UK, to develop work and try out new ideas with us.”

The theatre may be closed but much is happening and there is much to look forward to.