Gideon Arthurs named new executive director of Soulpepper Theatre Company

Gideon Arthurs has been named the new executive director of the Soulpepper Theatre Company. (THE CANADIAN PRESS / HO-Soulpepper Theatre Company)

TORONTO — Gideon Arthurs has been named the new executive director of the Soulpepper Theatre Company.

Soulpepper's board of directors announced on Monday that Arthurs will serve at the helm of the Toronto theatre company alongside artistic director Weyni Mengesha.

Arthurs joins Soulpepper after eight years as the chief executive officer of the National Theatre School of Canada.

He previously established himself as a leader in Toronto's theatre scene as general manager of Tarragon Theatre and executive director of the Toronto Fringe Festival.

Arthurs is set to assume his duties part-time in March before fully taking over in May.

He replaces outgoing Soulpepper executive director Emma Stenning, whose departure was announced last fall when she decided to return to her native U.K. at the end of her three-year contract.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 10, 2022