Charlotte Geeves to step down as Executive Director to take up a new role at The National Ballet of Canada

Bristol Old Vic Executive Director and co-CEO Charlotte Geeves has today announced that she is to leave the historic theatre at the end of the summer to lead the Toronto-based National Ballet of Canada as their Executive Director, serving as Co-Chief Executive with Artistic Director Hope Muir. 

Geeves has led Bristol Old Vic for six years as Executive Director and co-CEO, guiding the organisation through Covid and a change in artistic leadership. During her tenure she has overseen a growth in earnings from commercial activity, corporate partnerships and fundraising, and improved ticket sales. Together with the leadership team she has enabled the continuation of a broad programme of creative activity, on and off-stage, in the face of rising costs and a reduction in public investment.  

Speaking today, Charlotte Geeves said: “There are very few organisations that become part of your soul, but Bristol Old Vic is one of those. I am immensely proud of everything we have achieved over the last six years, and whilst I will not be here, I’m very excited about the direction of travel for BOV under Nancy’s artistic direction, as it continues with the development of the next generation of British plays and new musicals.” 

Bernard Donoghue OBE, Bristol Old Vic's Chair, said: “All of us at Bristol Old Vic will be very sorry to see Charlotte leave us. She has been a fantastic and inspiring Executive Director and Joint CEO, leading us all through some of the most challenging times including the recovery post-pandemic and the subsequent cost of living crisis; managing our stakeholder and funding relationships with great political judgement, care and sensitivity; and creating an environment for our artistic ambitions, mission and values to become evident and realised. I’m very grateful to her for passion, enthusiasm, energy and commitment and my sadness at losing Charlotte is softened by real delight and pride in her new exciting future role.” 

Nancy Medina, Artistic Director of Bristol Old Vic, said: “I couldn’t have asked for a more hard-working, kind, funny and empathetic person to have started my journey here as joint CEO. I can't thank Charlotte enough for her amazing energy and dedication to our mission, and her extensive knowledge and skills which have helped steer the organization - she'll be such a huge asset to The National Ballet of Canada.” 

Rags Davloor, Board Chair of the National Ballet of Canada said: “On behalf of everyone at The National Ballet of Canada, we look forward to warmly welcoming Charlotte to our company and to Canada. Her leadership at Bristol Old Vic and other major UK cultural institutions reflects a thoughtful, forward-looking approach to arts administration. Charlotte brings not only a strong grasp of organizational strategy and financial stewardship, but also a clear-eyed commitment to the role the arts play in civic life. Her perspective and experience make her a strong and complementary partner to Artistic Director Hope Muir, and we are excited to see what we will build together.” 

Bernard Donoghue confirmed that David Harraway, Bristol Old Vic’s Director of Production & Operations, will co-lead Bristol Old Vic with Nancy Medina during the interim period until a permanent Executive Director is in post. Applications for the permanent role open today with Donna Munday leading the recruitment process on behalf of the Trustees. 

Bernard Donoghue said: “We have started the process of recruiting Charlotte's successor who, in partnership with Nancy, the staff and the Board, will build on all that Charlotte has achieved and will join us in our 260th anniversary year in 2026.” 

Nancy Medina continued: “I look forward to working alongside someone who can offer passion, compassion and fierce commitment for the work Bristol Old Vic does now, and the work we want to do in the future, alongside.” 

A Recruitment Pack for the Executive Director role including information about how to apply can be found at bristololdvic.org.uk/about/jobs. Applications close 12pm, Wed 17 September 2025. 

For all media enquiries, please contact Amanda Adams, Head of Communications at Bristol Old Vic. 

About Charlotte Geeves 
Since taking up the post as Executive Director at Bristol Old Vic in 2019, Charlotte has successfully championed the cultural strength of Bristol in the region and UK arts sector. She has steered the organisation through the pandemic, and change of artistic leadership, while maintaining BOVs commitment to creativity and producing new work in a challenging financial climate.  

She spearheaded the organisations environmental transformation, including the first UK arts sector carbon literacy training programme and worked alongside Aisha Thomas at Representation Matters on the development of EDI training for the organisation. Alongside her Chief Executive role she shares with Nancy Medina, she is also chair of Cerebra.    

Charlotte has a deep knowledge of producing theatre beginning her career in stage management, rising to the role of Company Manager for both The Young Vic under David Lan and Shakespeare’s Globe under Dominic Dromgoole.  From there she developed her producing skills working as Projects Manager for Alistair Spalding at Sadler’s Wells and then as General Manager at Salisbury International Arts Festival before working as Festivals Manager for Wildscreen in Bristol. She was previously Chief Executive Officer of the annual Henley Festival.  

About The National Ballet of Canada 
One of the top international ballet companies, The National Ballet of Canada was founded in 1951 by Celia Franca. Today, the company is among the world’s finest, with 70 dancers and its own orchestra. The National Ballet has a history of pre-eminent Artistic Directors and in January 2022, welcomed Hope Muir to the role. Renowned for its diverse repertoire, the company performs traditional full-length classics, embraces contemporary work and encourages the creation of new ballets as well as the development of Canadian choreographers. The company’s repertoire includes works by Frederick Ashton, George Balanchine, Aszure Barton, Marie Chouinard, John Cranko, William Forsythe, Alonzo King, James Kudelka, Wayne McGregor, Kenneth McMillan, John Neumeier, Rudolf Nureyev, Crystal Pite, Emma Portner, Alexei Ratmansky, Christopher Wheeldon and William Yong, the company’s Choreographic Associates Guillaume Côté and Ethan Colangelo, among other creators. The National Ballet tours in Canada, the US and internationally with appearances in Paris, London, Moscow and St. Petersburg, Hamburg, New York City, Washington, D.C., Los Angeles and San Francisco. national.ballet.ca