CHRIS SUDWORTH APPOINTED CEO OF HACKNEY EMPIRE

Chair Sir William Atkinson and the Board of Hackney Empire are thrilled to announce the appointment of Chris Sudworth to the position of CEO of Hackney Empire, effective from 5 January 2026. This follows the announcement that Jo Hemmant will be stepping down at the end of 2025 as CEO after 12 years at Hackney Empire.

Chris will join Hackney Empire from his role as Creative Director at Birmingham Hippodrome, where he has worked since 2017. He holds executive responsibility for fundraising and all work produced by Birmingham Hippodrome, including the UK’s first dedicated New Musical Theatre department, New Work & Artist Development, city-wide Festivals, Access, Learning & Participation; and led on a main stage and studio programme reaching over 500,000 audiences each year. Chris was the first Director of The Core at Corby Cube from 2010-2015, opening and establishing a landmark new venue with young people and communities at its heart, and a bold contemporary programme; Executive Director of The Old Rep, Birmingham, from 2015-2017; and, prior to that, a freelance director, producer and consultant.

Sir William Atkinson, Chair of the Board of Trustees, said, “I am delighted to announce that following an exhaustive recruitment process the Board of Trustees have appointed Chris Sudworth as our next CEO effective 5 January 2026.

Chris’s impressive track record and clear ideas for the future marked him out as an outstanding candidate from the very outset. 

We are all very excited at the prospect of working alongside Chris to ensure that Hackney Empire continues to deliver outstanding theatre to its enthusiastic and diverse audiences.”

Jo Hemmant, current Hackney Empire CEO said, “I have every confidence that Chris will wholeheartedly embrace Hackney Empire and all that it stands for, and that he will treasure this beautiful building, its wonderful team and all our communities. Hackney Empire is a precious place and I wish Chris every success as he continues to chart the next chapter in its 125-year history “

Chris Sudworth said, “I’m delighted to be joining Hackney Empire after 10 wonderful years in Birmingham. It’s a truly iconic theatre, with huge impact locally, deep commitment to increasing access and opportunity, and supporting a new generation of creatives. I look forward to building on Jo’s work, collaborating with the Board, the team, communities and partners - locally, nationally and internationally - to make Hackney ever more central to the UK theatre ecology.”