News Story
Farnham Maltings is delighted to announce Peter Glanville as our new Chief Executive Officer. He will start on Monday 23 January 2023. Peter joins us after nine very successful years as artistic director and joint CEO of Polka Theatre, in Wimbledon, and we’re looking forward to him joining the team and driving forward the work and community of the Maltings.
“It is a huge privilege for me to be taking up the position of Director and CEO at Farnham Maltings. The organisation has gained an international reputation for its work supporting artists, as well as establishing the house network of venues across South East England and producing exceptional theatre for rural communities. From its beautiful arts and cultural centre in the heart of Farnham, a World Craft Town, it has also continued to improve the quality of people’s lives with a thriving programme of performances and participative activities. Together with a committed team, I look forward to building on the exceptional legacy that Gavin Stride has left from his 2O years of leadership.”Peter Glanville
“The Board is excited about Peter joining us as Director and Chief Executive Officer. We went through a very robust process, with a large field of candidates, and Peter’s appointment was endorsed wholeheartedly by the Directors. As we enter an exciting era for Farnham Maltings, Peter will bring a new set of eyes to our issues, and working with the staff team, our stakeholders, the local community and the Directors, we will together shape the strategy for the coming 10 years. Our objectives remain the same, the environment has changed and we will adapt accordingly. We all look forward to working with Peter from January.”Michael Maher, chair of the Board of Directors for Farnham Maltings Limited
"We are incredibly sorry to see Peter leave, after what has been a truly extraordinary nine years. He has driven Polka’s varied and ambitious creative programme, built exciting new partnerships and helped shape the imaginative new space that Polka Theatre is for children, particularly in the last year since we reopened. The whole Polka team, staff and Board wish Peter all the very best for his exciting next role.”Dominic Proctor, newly elected Chair of Trustees for Polka
about Peter
Peter has been Artistic Director of Polka Theatre since 2013, following eight years as Artistic Director and CEO of the Little Angel Theatre. During his tenure at Polka, as Joint CEO, he helped oversee FUTURE POLKA, the £9m capital redevelopment of the building. He also established several festivals including Big Dreams, Techtopia and Brainwaves which brought neuroscientists together with theatre practitioners. Peter has directed acclaimed productions for Polka including the Royal Opera House co-production Hatch; Early Years Opera Skitterbang Island; Julia Donaldson’s The Paper Dolls and Ready, Steady, Go! which was recently performed in Belgium and Holland. He won an OFFIE for Best Production for Children for his adaptation of Peter Pan at Polka in 2015.
For Little Angel Theatre, he established a professional development programme, alongside the biennial SUSPENSE London Puppetry Festival for adults across 10 London venues. He also directed an acclaimed production of Macbeth with Helen McCrory, The Tempest (RSC Co-Production) for The Swan Theatre and Carol Ann Duffy’s The Tear Thief, narrated by Juliet Stevenson.