Edinburgh International Festival Announces New Planning and Operations Director, Roy Luxford

The Festival is pleased to announce its new Planning and Operations Director, Roy Luxford who will take up his new post in February 2013. Over the last eight years Roy has worked internationally as a producer of theatre, dance and music-theatre.

The Edinburgh International Festival presents a programme of approximately 170 performances of classical music, theatre, opera and dance from the best International Artists over a three to four week period as well as a bi-annual visual arts component. It continues to attract visitors from around the world to Scotland’s beautiful capital city and to present one of the most prestigious celebrations of the arts anywhere in the world.

The Planning and Operations Director is responsible for delivering this programme, working closely with the Festival Director. The post involves co-ordinating the artistic planning and technical functions and leading on contractual negotiations with artists, companies and venues.

Previously he was Executive Director for Cheek by Jowl and the Michael Clark Company, Programme Manager at Sadler’s Wells Theatre and the Peacock Theatre, General Manager at DV8 Physical Theatre, and Line Producer for the first UK tour of Stomp! for Glynis Henderson Productions.

Independently he has produced for AndBC, Dash Arts, Serious, London Contemporary Opera, Cardboard Citizens, Tiata Fahodzi, and Boy Blue Entertainment.

Last year he produced One Thousand and One Nights, directed by Tim Supple for Dash Arts, an epic production cast and produced in the Middle East, and presented at the Luminato Festival in Toronto and the Edinburgh International Festival.

He is a member of the Theatrical Management Association and the International Society for the Performing Arts.

On his appointment Roy said, ‘I am delighted to be joining Edinburgh International Festival to work on one of the world's truly inspiring festivals.’

Roy succeeds Alison Riach who has held the post since 2007.

Jonathan Mills, Festival Director added, ‘We are delighted to welcome Roy to the staff of the Festival. Having worked with him on previous productions presented at the Festival we are sure that he is going to make an exciting and dedicated contribution to the Festival and look forward to having him as part of the team which delivers the Festival each year.’

‘I would also like to pay tribute to Alison Riach for her enormous contribution to the Festival over a number of years. We wish her the very best in her future plans and projects.’