Matthew Xia announced as new Artistic Director of Actors Touring Company

Matthew Xia has been announced as the new artistic director for Actors Touring Company. Xia will assume the position part-time from December 2018, before taking on the role full time in March 2019.

Matthew Xia was the associate artistic director the Royal Exchange Theatre Manchester from 2014 to 2017. During his time, he directed a production of Wish List in conjunction with the Royal Court, Frankenstein and Into the Woods. Other directorial credits include The Sound of Yellow and Sizwe Banzi at the Young Vic and Suckerpunch Boom Suite at the Barbican.

Before taking on his new artistic directorial role, Xia will direct the world premiere of Eden at Hampstead Theatre Downstairs and One Night in Miami at the Nottingham Playhouse.

Speaking on his new role, Xia said "I look forward to finding and presenting new international voices to diverse communities in the UK, as well as working with cosmopolitan British writers and introducing their work to international audiences. I'm thrilled to be joining the brilliant team at Actors Touring Company and leading the company into a new phase of its evolution".

Chair of the Actors Touring Company Maria Delgado added: "[Xia] brings a wealth of experience to this role, having directed original, high-quality productions for a range of theatres, both in London and across the country, and engaged with different communities and with works from different cultural traditions".

Founded in the 1970s, the Actors Touring Company perform across the world, recently presenting The Brothers Size at the Young Vic.

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