February 9, 2011 4.11 pm This story is over 157 months old

New Artistic Director has big plans for LPAC

Evolving: LPAC has a new Artistic Director who wants to turn the venue around into a vibrant culture spot for Lincoln.

The new Artistic Director of the Lincoln Performing Arts Centre (LPAC) wants to nurture local talent and bring the venue around.

Craig Morrow (pictured) joined the LPAC from The Brewhouse Theatre & Arts Centre in Taunton late last month.

“I want to get to a place where LPAC is both a producing and a presenting venue,” Morrow explained.

“We need to nurture local talent, supporting artist development and creating progression routes so that people do not feel like they always have to go to London.”

During his tenure as Artistic Associate at The Brewhouse, Morrow turned around the theatre’s fortunes to national acclaim.

He says there are real parallels between the economy and geography of Lincolnshire and Somerset. However, he points out that audiences are unpredictable.

“Because of the space the arts inhabit, in which we are dealing with people’s sensibilities and feelings, there are no hard and fast rules,” he said.

“We hope to do something similar at LPAC over the course of the next year, looking at how we can complement what’s offered at the Drill Hall and the Theatre Royal.

“I want the LPAC to be open to all students and the local community.”

Plans for the city venue also include regular free events in the café bar, such as comedy nights and sessions for under-fives.

The LPAC is a 450-seat theatre, hosting shows by musicians, comedians, dance companies and theatre groups and is home to the Lincoln School of Performing Arts.

Source: University of Lincoln