A familiar face at Nelson’s Theatre Royal has stepped up to take on the manager’s role.
Eliane Polack has been appointed to the position after spending three years as the theatre’s operations manager.
This follows the resignation of long-standing manager Janice Marthen, and the swift departure of her successor, Hal Martin, who was only in the job for three months.
Nelson Historic Theatre Trust chair Mark Christensen says the theatre will be in “excellent hands” with Eliane at the helm.
He believes she has a thorough understanding of the support required to promote and present touring and local shows.
Elaine says she is honoured to be in the position.
“I have a lot of ideas,” she says. “I’m talking with some local groups to see what other possibilities there are to make best use of the theatre.”
Elaine will be supported by the theatre’s core staff, including Chrissy Olsen, Aude Graf, Kate Alexander and JR Richardson, as well as their team of part-time bar and front of house staff and more than 100 voluntary ushers.
“We have a wonderful team here – it’s a real team effort,” says Elaine.
The Theatre Royal is the oldest purpose-built performance theatre in New Zealand and first opened its doors in 1878.
