Matthew Xia appointed new Associate Artistic Director of Manchester’s Royal Exchange

Friday, 4 July 2014

Matthew Xia, winner of the Genesis Future Directors Award (2013), has been appointed as the new Associate Artistic Director of the Royal Exchange Theatre in Manchester.

Matthew will join the theatre’s creative team in September, working full time alongside artistic director Sarah Frankcom in developing projects as well as directing work. New projects include a year-long collaboration with audiences and an open day to allow visitors to go behind the scenes of a theatre with workshops and activities.

Talking about his appointment, Matthew said: “I’m thrilled to be joining the Royal Exchange Theatre as Associate Artistic Director. The conversations I’ve had with Sarah indicate that the theatre is embracing change, testing and redefining its relationship with a truly dynamic city, its artists and its audiences.”

Matthew joins off the back of a successful year as the Genesis Future Director at the Young Vic with a highly acclaimed run of Athol Fugard’s play Sizwe Banzi is Dead at the Young Vic. The Genesis Future Director Award aims to nurture and develop emerging young directors by giving them an invaluable opportunity to put on a fully-resourced production at the Young Vic and help them in their future directing careers. The play went on to have a second sold-out run at the Young Vic’s Maria Theatre earlier this year, and outstanding reviews, before it embarked on a six-week national tour.

The Genesis Foundation congratulates Matthew on his new appointment and his future directing career.