Liam Sinclair, one of the UK’s most respected cultural leaders, has been announced as the new Executive Director of the National Theatre of Scotland (NTS), and will be taking up the post in September 2025.
Liam brings a wealth of experience to the role having been Executive Director and joint CEO of Dundee Rep Theatre and Scottish Dance Theatre since 2019, as well as serving as Co-Chair of the Board of the Federation of Scottish Theatre until 2023, guiding the Scottish theatre sector through times of upheaval and uncertainty during the pandemic and recovery phases.
He has also held the roles of Artistic Director of the Byre Theatre, Executive Producer for Scottish Dance Theatre, Artistic Director & CEO of Macrobert Arts Centre, Director of the Edinburgh Mela, and Head of YouthWorks Drama (Short Courses) for the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, of which he is a graduate.
During his time as a Co-Chair of the Federation of Scottish Theatre (FST), he and his fellow Co-Chair and the FST CEO were at the forefront of sector advocacy work with government, Creative Scotland and others to secure vital support for the theatre and dance sector in Scotland.
Liam has also chaired on the boards of Luminate, Scotland’s creative ageing organisation and Birds of Paradise Theatre Company, one of Scotland’s leading inclusive theatre companies.
He has extensive experience in a range of sectors having worked for several Higher Education Institutions such as The University of St Andrews, The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and in partnership with The University of Stirling.
Liam said “I am absolutely thrilled to be joining the National Theatre of Scotland as Executive Director and Co-Chief Executive. Now, more than ever, the role that culture plays in our lives to help us navigate, shape, and understand the world in which we live, is vital. Collaborating with Jackie, the NTS Board, the NTS Team and all the amazing artists and freelancers the Company works with, to take forward the important mission of the Company, will be a rewarding challenge in the years ahead. I am very much looking forward to getting started later this year.”
In 2025, NTS will be bringing Brian Cox back to Scotland’s stages, in an epic new play by James Graham, Make it Happen, in a co-production with Edinburgh International Festival and Dundee Rep, as well as presenting participatory projects in schools in Fife and Falkirk, a nightclub in Glasgow and hospital in West Lothian and will announce their programme celebrating their 20th birthday in 2026, later this year.
Irene Brown
Radio Summerhall Arts 