Douglas is a theatre director and cultural leader who brings together artistic ambition, organisational leadership and a belief in the difference culture can make to a place and its people.

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As Chief Executive and Artistic Director of the New Wolsey Theatre in Ipswich, he has led a period of renewal, strengthening its programme, partnerships and role in the community. His approach centres on supporting artists, opening up opportunities and building a theatre that people feel belongs to them.

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Douglas co-founded the East Anglian Touring Consortium, bringing eight organisations together to develop ambitious new work and strengthen touring across the region. With the New Wolsey as lead producer, he directed the consortium’s first production, Vikki Stone’s Caroline: A New Musical. The critically acclaimed actor-musician musical received a nomination for Excellence in Touring at the 2026 UK Theatre Awards.

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His leadership extends beyond theatre. He chairs We Are Ipswich, the independent collective of the town’s arts and heritage organisations, and has helped lead the development of Ipswich’s Culture and Heritage Strategy 2026–36. This work brings cultural organisations together with communities and partners across education, health, business and local government to shape a shared future for the town.

He also conceived and led the successful Creative People and Places funding bid for Ipswich, securing long-term investment in culture shaped and led by local communities. He sits on the Norfolk and Suffolk Culture Board and the Ipswich Central Business Improvement District Board, and is a trustee of Suffolk Pride.

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Previously, Douglas was Artistic Director of Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch, where he expanded its artistic ambition, supported emerging and working-class artists through Essex on Stage, and developed partnerships including the National Theatre’s Public Acts programme. During his tenure, the theatre was named London Theatre of the Year at The Stage Awards in 2020.

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He founded and led the touring company Transport and was an Associate Director at Complicité. He was included in The Stage 100 in 2020 and the East Anglian Daily Times Suffolk 100 in 2022.

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Throughout his career, Douglas has championed collaboration between theatres, independent companies, artists and communities. He is interested in how cultural organisations can make extraordinary work while creating opportunities, strengthening connections and playing an active part in the places they serve.

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Selected awards and recognition

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The organisations and partnerships Douglas has led, and productions they have created or presented, have received recognition including:

• 2026 — UK Theatre Awards: Excellence in Touring nomination for Caroline: A New Musical, the East Anglian Touring Consortium’s first production; Best Musical Production nomination for the New Wolsey’s co-production of Calendar Girls – The Musical; and Best New Play nomination for curious directive’s Black Sheep, presented at Theatre Royal Bury St Edmunds and the New Wolsey.

• 2025 — UK Theatre Awards: Excellence in Inclusivity nomination for the New Wolsey Theatre’s Eat, Sleep, Move, Repeat programme.

• 2024 — East Anglian Daily Times Business Awards: Suffolk Business of the Year and Positive Impact in the Community awards for the New Wolsey Theatre.

• 2022 — UK Theatre Awards: UK’s Most Welcoming Theatre shortlist for the New Wolsey Theatre.

• 2020 — The Stage Awards: London Theatre of the Year for Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch.

• 2019 — UK Theatre Awards: Most Welcoming Theatre nomination for Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch.

• 2018 — Clothworkers’ Theatre Award: Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch, supporting its Essex on Stage programme.