In memory of Ruth Eastwood

It is with great sadness we share the news that following a short and unexpected illness Ruth Eastwood, Theatres Adviser, passed away at the end of May.

Ruth’s passion for the work of Theatres Trust and her impact on the organisation has been huge.  She served on the Board for nine years and was Vice Chair for her last six.  She also kindly stayed on as a co-opted member of our Executive Committee for a further two years to help ensure continuity of governance while we awaited a new Chair to be appointed. As well as offering her wealth of knowledge and experience in theatres and theatre management to support our overall strategic and day-to-day work, she also drew on her organisational development and coaching skills to support the staff and trustees through another leadership transition in the interim period before Jon Morgan was appointed as Director in January 2017.

Such was her passion and commitment to Theatres Trust she then joined us as Theatres Adviser in February 2024, a role which she hugely enjoyed and in which her colleagues and the theatres she supported valued and respected her considerable expertise and wisdom.

Over Ruth’s long career she worked with and led many of the theatre sector’s most important and well-regarded organisations. Following earlier positions at Hull Truck, the Royal National Theatre, Bradford Theatres and as Head of Arts and Culture for Darlington Borough Council, she served as Chief Executive of Blackpool Grand, Curve Leicester and Lighthouse Poole.  Ruth has had such an impact across the theatre sector and we know hundreds of colleagues will be mourning her loss.