CHRIS STAFFORD TO STEP DOWN AS CEO OF CURVE
Leicester’s Curve theatre has today announced that Chris Stafford is to step down as CEO having led the organisation for more than a decade. Chris will leave the role in spring 2027 and join Cameron Mackintosh Limited as Chief Operating Officer.
Chris was appointed CEO in 2015 having previously served as Executive Producer. During his tenure, Curve has seen considerable growth across all areas of the organisation with audience attendance in Leicester increasing by 34%, learning and participation engagement by 62% and annual turnover by 156%.
Chris has also overseen the producing of over 70+ Made at Curve productions and co-productions, 11 London and West End transfers and over 30 regional, national and international tours. Together with Artistic Director Nikolai Foster, Chris has positioned the award-winning Leicester theatre as a place to launch and open major touring work including the Royal Shakespeare Company’s MATILDA, Matthew Bourne’s THE CAR MAN, and Cameron Mackintosh’s productions of MISS SAIGON and LES MISERABLES.
In 2025, alongside his role at Curve, Chris joined Manchester’s Royal Exchange Theatre as Interim Executive Director to lead a business turnaround. Chris is also an active board member of UK Theatre, Stage One and Dance Consortium.
The news also sees a new leadership structure being put in place at Curve with Artistic Director, Nikolai Foster, becoming joint CEO with Chris’ successor. Recruitment for the new CEO will commence shortly and full details will be available on Curve’s website.
Chris Stafford said:
“It really has been the greatest privilege to lead this extraordinary theatre over the past 11 years alongside my incredible running mate, Nikolai Foster. I leave Curve in a terrific place, and I could not be prouder of everything we have achieved together. Someone very lucky will get to run this special theatre alongside the most brilliant collaborator in Nikolai.
“Curve is the theatre it is today because of the extraordinary support of our audiences here in Leicester and across the region, alongside the many artists, donors and funders who have championed us over the years. I am also enormously grateful to our Trustees, past and present, for their unwavering guidance, encouragement and belief in what we have set out to achieve.
“Above all, my biggest thanks go to the incredible team at Curve. They really are the best in the business, and it has been a joy and honour to work alongside them. I cannot wait to see what they achieve next.”
Sita McIntosh, Chair of Leicester Theatre Trust said:
“It would be relatively simple to measure Chris’ success at Curve in monetary terms; after 11 years at the helm, the organisation is set to turnover £20M this financial year compared to £7.8M when he joined. However, it would be impossible to calculate what he’s brought to the organisation in terms of his leadership, vision and commitment to Curve and indeed Leicester.
“The UK theatre industry is richer for his devotion to the craft, its people and audiences. We are quietly devastated to say goodbye to Chris, but he goes with our blessing and good wishes, and we will now work with Nikolai Foster to appoint a worthy successor to take Curve into our 20th year and beyond.
“On behalf of the board and all the staff at Curve we say a mighty, THANK YOU.”