Rosemary Squire
Rosemary Squire, OBE
![]() Rosemary Squire in 2011 | |
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Born |
Rosemary Squire 27 May 1956 Nottingham, England |
Occupation | Theatre producer, theatre manager, businesswoman |
Spouse(s) | Sir Howard Panter |
Children |
Jennifer Brodie (born 1986) Daniel Brodie (born 1987) Katherine "Kate" Panter (born 2002) |
Rosemary Squire OBE (born 27 May 1956) is a prolific and broad-based commercial theatre producer. She is a Founder, Co-Owner and Joint Chief Executive of The Ambassador Theatre Group Ltd (ATG), whose subsidiary companies include Sonia Friedman Productions (SFP) and First Family Entertainment (FFE). Squire's responsibilities include the company's core business and new projects team. In 2010, 2011, 2012 2013, 2014 & 2015 together with her husband and business partner Sir Howard Panter, Squire was named Most Powerful Person in British Theatre by the Stage Newspaper in their annual Stage 100 list.[1][2][3][4][5] In February 2013 she was assessed as the 16th most powerful woman in the United Kingdom by Woman's Hour on BBC Radio 4.[6] In 2014, Rosemary was named EY Entrepreneur of the Year.
Life and career
Early years
- From 1967 to 1974 Squire studied at Nottingham High School for Girls
- 1975–79 Studying at Southampton University Squire gained a BA hons First Class – Spanish with Catalan and French
- 1977–78 Barcelona University, Spain (English Language Assistant)
- 1979–80 Brown University, USA – Post Graduate Scholarship[7]
Rosemary Squire arrived in theatreland in 1980 after an education that took her from Nottingham Girls' High School to Southampton University and on to an Ivy League college in America and studies in Barcelona.[8]
1980s
- Various administrative roles, Wyndham's Theatres Limited
- 1984 – general manager, Maybox Group plc, second largest group of West End Theatres, then owned by Associated Newspapers.
- 1988 – general manager, Turnstyle Group Limited (theatre production company)[9]
1990s
- Executive Director, Turnstyle Group Limited, co-producing (amongst others) the award-winning musical Carmen Jones.[9]
- 1992 – With the backing of Sir Eddie Kulukundis and brothers Sir John and Peter Beckwith,[10] Squire and Panter establish Ambassador Theatre Group with acquisitions of Duke of York's Theatre and Management contract of The Ambassadors Theatre and Cinema complex Woking.
- 1995– The expansion of ATG continues when Squire and Panter acquire The Ambassadors Theatre, renamed New Ambassadors Theatre in 1999.
- 1996/97 – They extend the group with the management contract for the newly built Milton Keynes Theatre and the Regent Theatre and Victoria Hall in Stoke-on-Trent.
- 1997 – Executive Director, Ambassador Theatre Group – Responsible for core business and new projects team, winning tenders for many regional venues
2000s
- 2000 was a pivotal year for Squire and Panter with the acquisition of further regional venues Churchill Theatre, Bromley and Richmond Theatre, Surrey and with the purchase of ACT Theatres (Albery, Donmar Warehouse, Fortune, Phoenix, Piccadilly, Comedy, Whitehall (renamed Trafalgar Studios in 2004) and Wyndhams) and the Playhouse Theatre, London and Theatre Royal Brighton acquired in 2000.
- Squire also joined the Board of Management, Society of London Theatres and Arts Council Capital Advisory Panel.
- In 2002, their first venue in Scotland came with the King's Theatre, Glasgow.
- 2000–03 ATG continues to acquire theatres in the West End and the UK regions and co-produces 25 shows in 2003 alone. Squire also elected Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts and joins the board of Donmar Warehouse Productions (the producing company based at the Donmar).
- In 2004, Squire and Panter take over the closed Wimbledon Theatre reopening it as the New Wimbledon Theatre.
- In 2005, their Scottish portfolio extends with a lease and management contract Theatre Royal, Glasgow.
- In June 2005, Rosemary became the first democratically elected President of the Society of London Theatre (the trade organisation of London's theatre owners and managers), and the second only female President in the organisation's 100-year history. As President, Rosemary has campaigned fearlessly to improve the West End theatre-going environment and to secure vital funding for capital improvements to protect the long-term future of London's historic theatres. She completed her three-year term in July 2008 and then went on to serve a further three years as Vice-President. She was a member of The Arts Council of England Lottery Advisory Panel from 2000 to 2005 and is a member of the Theatrical Management Association.
- 2004–05 Savoy Theatre, London becomes ATG's 24th venue making ATG the largest theatre group in the West End, and second largest in the UK, ATG are also prolific producers in London, regionally and internationally. Trafalgar Studio 2 opens at the Trafalgar Studios, London.
- 2006 – A full-time working mother, Squire won the prestigious CBI Real Business First Women Award for Tourism and Leisure in June 2006, recognising her outstanding commercial success and the breakthroughs she made in promoting equal opportunities for women (especially at senior management level), flexible working and promotion from within the company.[11] Accepting the award, Rosemary Squire said: The theatre industry is a major contributor to the UK economy and I am delighted this has been recognised by the CBI. I am very proud that ATG is the fastest growing live entertainment company in the UK and that more than half of our staff are women, including those on a senior management level. I hope that the First Women Awards will encourage more women to realise that professional success can be balanced with the demands of family. [12]
- Also in 2006 Squire was appointed a London First International Envoy for London
- 2007 Awarded an OBE for Services to Theatre. Squire, spoke of her appointment: I'm extremely proud of the pioneering work that ATG has achieved over the past 15 years and it is wonderful that the company and the industry have been recognised in this way. [11]
- In January 2009, Rosemary was appointed a National Member of the Arts Council England Board. She was Chair of Great Ormond Street Hospital's Theatres for Theatres Appeal and Vice-Chairman of Dance Umbrella, the UK's foremost international contemporary dance festival. She is also a Trustee of The Hall of Cornwall.[13][14]
- In February 2009, ATG was awarded the contract to run the new Aylesbury Waterside Theatre.[15]
- In November 2009, they realign their share holding to bring in private equity group Exponent for a deal to secure the funding for the acquisition of Live Nation's UK Theatre portfolio. ATG becomes the largest theatre group in the UK.[16] Panter remains joint-owner and becomes joint Chief Executive and Creative Director. Greg Dyke becomes Executive Chairman of the larger group. Other board members include: Sir Eddie Kulukundis OBE, David Blyth, Helen Enright, Michael Lynas, Peter Kavanagh, Richard Lenane, Chris Graham, Simon Davidson, Peter Beckwith OBE and Bill Benjamin.
2010s
- In 2010, Squire and Panter open the Aylesbury Waterside Theatre their 42nd theatre (their 39th currently within ATG).
- The Ambassador Theatre Group Ltd (ATG) was also shortlisted in 2010's 'Ones to Recognise' feature which is published as part of The Sunday Times PricewaterhouseCoopers Profit Track 100 Ones to Recognise.[17]
- In 2010, 2011, 2012 & 2013, together with her husband and business partner Howard Panter, Squire was named Most Powerful Person in British Theatre by the Stage Newspaper in their annual Stage 100 list.[1][18][3] In 2010, London's Evening Standard named Squire and her husband jointly as the most influential people in British Theatre in the newspaper's list of London's 1000 most influential people 2010.[19]
- In January 2011 ATG selected AudienceView Ticketing as its ticketing technology provider.
- In February 2011 ATG announced that it had successfully secured a new five-year management contract for Churchill Theatre Bromley, beginning in April 2011.
- 2011 – Following the hugely successful run of Ghost The Musical at the Opera House, Squire and Panter/The Ambassador Theatre Group Ltd (ATG) launched its Manchester Gets it First (MGiF) initiative – the company's commitment to bringing the biggest new musicals to Manchester before London and other major cities.[20][21]
- In July 2011 ATG became the first theatre company in the world to install the new innovative ProBax seating at the Fortune Theatre in London.
- In August 2011 ATG announced its first full year results since its £90 million purchase of Live Nation's UK theatres, revealing [a 5% increase in turnover and a 3% increase in profit on the combined company] steady growth.
- In September 2011 ATG announced that London's Comedy Theatre will be renamed The Harold Pinter Theatre, after the distinguished playwright, screen writer, director, political activist and actor.
- In November 2011 ATG launched ATG Theatre Card – the UK's biggest theatre membership scheme with 100,000 members and growing.
- In November 2011 ATG launched new website www.atgtickets.com – the UK's Most Visited Theatre Website (Hitwise).
- In December 2011 ATG announced it had partnered with Tony Award®-winner Jerry Mitchell, the acclaimed director and choreographer, to form Jerry Mitchell Productions.
- In January 2012 ATG announced a co-producing partnership with West End and Broadway Producer, Tali Pelman, with the objective of developing and producing productions for presentation within ATG venues.
- 2012 – Theatre's power couple, husband and wife team Panter and Squire, Joint Chief Executives and co-founders of Ambassador Theatre Group (ATG), topped The Stage 100 list for the third consecutive year – the industry bible's annual guide to the 100 most influential people in UK theatre, now in its 16th year.
- In February 2012 ATG was announced as the UK's second fastest growing privately backed company in The Sunday Times Buyout Track 100, sponsored by Deloitte. The annual league table ranks companies by growth in profits.[22]
- In May 2012 ATG officially launched Theatre Royal Brighton Productions' inaugural production, Pinero's classic comedy, Dandy Dick at Brighton Race Course. Theatre Royal Brighton Productions was launched to create new play productions in Brighton, regionally and in London, with Artistic Director, Christopher Luscombe and Associate Directors, Maria Aitken and Philip Franks.
- 2012 – ATG announced The Ripple Effect: a vibrant piece of new writing being premiered in different regions of the UK. The aim of the project is to connect with young people from diverse backgrounds with limited experience of arts engagement.
- In August 2012 ATG announced that it has partnered with acclaimed Director, Jamie Lloyd, to form Jamie Lloyd Productions.
- In September 2012 ATG announced details of how it is investing £15 million into capital projects which includes a major overhaul of the company's Front of House areas, bars and toilets, to improve facilities for customers.
- 2012 – ATG announced details of a relaxed performance pilot scheme for the 2012/2013 pantomime season with Churchill Theatre Bromley, Grimsby Auditorium and Richmond Theatre taking part. The scheme is supported by the Society of London Theatre (SOLT), the Theatrical Management Association (TMA) and The National Autistic Society (NAS) who have been collaborating with ATG on the delivery of these performances.
- In November 2012 ATG announced the appointment of Tim McFarlane as CEO for ATG Asia/Pacific.
- 2012 – ATG announced that it had successfully bid to continue operating the Regent Theatre and Victoria Hall in Stoke-on-Trent for the next ten years following a comprehensive tender process.
- In April 2013, ATG is ranked at no. 6 on The Sunday Times PwC Profit Track 100 list, published today in the Business section of The Sunday Times. The 100 firms are ranked by their profit growth over a three-year period.
- In May 2013, ATG announces that it has appointed Conrad Lynch to join its producing team.
- In May 2013, ATG, through its subsidiary, Lyric Theatre LLC, acquired The Foxwoods Theatre from Live Nation Entertainment.The Foxwoods Theatre, the largest theatre on Broadway, is situated in a prime 42nd Street location, opened in 1997 and seats nearly 2000 people. It is home to Spider-Man: Turn off the Dark, the most talked about show on Broadway and becomes ATG’s 40th venue.
Productions
Note: Produced by Rosemary Squire unless otherwise noted
- 9 to 5 (UK tour and London)
- A Midsummer Night's Dream, 2003 London
- After Mrs Rochester, 2003, London
- All New People (UK regions and London)
- Annie Get Your Gun 2014 (UK tour)
- Being Shakespeare (London, UK tour, New York and Chicago)
- Blue/Orange (UK tour)
- Carmen Jones, 1991 London
- Company, 2006–2007 Broadway
- Dandy Dick (UK tour)
- Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, 2014 London
- Elling, 2007 London &, 2010 Broadway
- Exit The King, 2009 Broadway
- Far Away, 2000 & 2001 London
- Fat Pig, 2008 London
- Ghost The Musical, 2011 Manchester, 2011 London
- Goodnight Mister Tom (London)
- Guys and Dolls, 2005–2007 London, 2006 & 2007 UK Tour, 2008–2009 Australia, 2009 Broadway
- Joe Egg, 2001 London, 2003 Broadway, 2009UK Tour
- Jersey Boys (London)
- La Cage Aux Folles (national US tour)
- Legally Blonde The Musical, 2009 London
- Legally Blonde (London, national tour and Sydney)
- Macbeth (London)
- Matthew Bourne's Highland Fling, 2005 London, 2005 UK Tour
- Matthew Bourne's Nutcracker!, 2002, 2003, 2007–08 London, 2003 & 2008 UK Tour, 2004 Worldwide Tour
- Maurice's Jubilee (UK tour)* Monkee Business (regional tour)
- Mouth To Mouth, 2001 London
- My One and Only, 2002 London
- Noises Off, 2001, 2002 & 2003 London, 2008 UK Tour, 2001 Broadway
- Passion Play (London)
- Porgy and Bess, 2006–07 London
- Posh, Jumpy and Constellations (Royal Court at the Duke of York's, London)
- Pretending To Be Me, 2003 London
- Priscilla Queen of the Desert (UK tour)
- Richard III, 2014 London
- Riflemind, 2008 London
- Rocky Horror Show, 2009–10 UK Tour, 2008 Australia
- The Rocky Horror Show 40th Anniversary (UK tour)
- Shakespeare, The Man from Stratford, 2010 UK Tour
- Shockheaded Peter, 2001 & 2002 London
- Smokey Joe's Café, 1996–98 London
- South Pacific (London and national tour)
- Spamalot (London and UK tour)
- Stephen Poliakoff's Sweet Panic, 2003–04 London
- Sunset Boulevard, 2008–2009 London
- Sweeney Todd, 2004–05 London, 2006 UK Tour, 2005–06 Broadway
- The Hothouse, 2013 London
- The Pride, 2013, London
- The Last Cigarette, 2009 London
- The Lover The Collection, 2008 London
- The Misanthrope, 2009 London
- The Mountaintop, 2009 London
- The Mountaintop (Broadway)
- The Mystery of Charles Dickens, 2000, 2001 & 2002 London, 2002 Broadway
- The Mystery of Charles Dickens 2012 (London)
- The New Statesman, 2006–07 London, 2006 UK Tour
- The Three Sisters, 2003 London
- Vincent in Brixton, 2002, 2002 & 2003 London, 2003 UK Tour, 2003 Broadway
- Weir, 1997 & 1998 London, 1999 Broadway
- West Side Story, 2008 London, 2008–09 UK Tour, 1995 & 1996–97 Australia
- Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown, London 2014
Honours and awards
- 2006 – Squire won the prestigious CBI Real Business First Women Award for Tourism and Leisure
- 2007 – Awarded an OBE for Services to Theatre
- In 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014 together with her husband and business partner Howard Panter, Squire was named Most Powerful Person in British Theatre by the Stage Newspaper in their annual Stage 100 list
- The Ambassador Theatre Group Ltd (ATG) was also shortlisted in 2010's 'Ones to Recognise' feature which is published as part of The Sunday Times PricewaterhouseCoopers Profit Track 100 Ones to Recognise.
- In 2012 ATG was announced as the UK's second fastest growing privately backed company in The Sunday Times Buyout Track 100, sponsored by Deloitte.
- In 2013, Squire was placed at number 16 in the BBC Radio 4 Woman's Hour Power List[6]
- In June 2014, Squire was named the only Master Entrepreneur for the London & South Region at EY's Entrepreneur of the Year 2014 Awards, a programme aimed at discovering exceptional companies and leaders that display the confidence, quality and aspiration to grow and prosper.
- In October 2014, Squire was named the UK Overall Winner at the UK Finals of the EY Entrepreneur of the Year 2014.
- Drama Desk Awards (US)
- 2006 Outstanding Revival of a Musical – Sweeney Todd
- 2007 Outstanding Revival of a Musical – Company
- Ernst & Young (UK)
- 2008 Entrepreneur of the Year – Regional Finalist (with Howard Panter) [23]
- Evening Standard Awards (UK)
- 1991 Best Musical – Carmen Jones[24]
- 2010 No1 London's 1000 Most Influential People: Theatre – Squire and husband Howard Panter[19]
- 2012 Best Play – Constellations[25]
- Olivier Awards (UK)
- 1992 Musical of the Year – Carmen Jones[26]
- 1998 Best Entertainment – Slava's Snow Show[27]
- 1999 Best New Play – The Weir
- 2002 Best Entertainment – Shockheaded Peter[28]
- 2003 Best New Play – Vincent in Brixton
- 2006 Outstanding Musical Production – Guys and Dolls
- 2009 Best Musical Revival – La Cage Aux Folles[29]
- 2002 Workforce Development Award for Innovation (Private Sector)
- 2005 Excellence in Workforce Development Award[30]
- Manchester Evening News Awards (UK)
- 2008 Best Musical – West Side Story
- 2012 Best Musical – Ghost
- 2012 One of the 250 of the most influential people in Greater Manchester (shared with Howard Panter)[31]
- McNaughton Review (Italy)
- 2006 Best Magazine Award (for the company's Ambassador Magazine)[32]
- RAAM Awards (UK)
- 2009 UK Independent Cinema of the Year (for Ambassadors Cinema, Woking)[32]
- The Stage's Top 100 People in British Theatre (UK)
- 2010 No.1 (Shared With Howard Panter)[18]
- 2011 No.1 (Shared With Howard Panter)[33]
- 2012 No.1 (Shared With Howard Panter)[18]
- 2013 No.1 (Shared With Howard Panter)[18]
- 2014 No.1 (Shared With Howard Panter)[18]
- 2015 No.1 (Shared With Howard Panter)[34]
- The Sunday Times(UK)
In April 2013, ATG is ranked at no. 6 on The Sunday Times PwC Profit Track 100 list, published today in the Business section of The Sunday Times. The 100 firms are ranked by their profit growth over a three-year period.
- Tony Awards (US)
- 2007 Best Revival of a Musical – Company
- Time Out Live Awards (UK)
- 2006 Best Production – Guys And Dolls
- Whatsonstage Theatregoers Choice Awards (UK)
Personal life
Childhood
Born in Nottingham, England. Educated at Nottingham Girls' High School followed by Southampton University and then Brown University, USA.
Marriage and family
Squire married Alan Brodie in 1982. They had two children, Jenny (born 1986) and Daniel (born 1987). Their marriage was dissolved in 1994. Squire is married to her business partner Howard Panter. The couple first met in 1979[39] at the Queen's Theatre, London where Squire was working in the box office during Panter's production of And a Nightingale Sang.[40] They married in 1994.[41] They had their first child Kate in 2002. Panter is also step-father to Squire's other children, Jenny and Daniel.
Other information
- Squire's interests include gardens, walking, literature and contemporary dance[7]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "ATG's Howard Panter and Rosemary Squire placed first in The Stage 100 : News". The Stage. Retrieved 31 July 2014.
- ↑ "ATG's Panter and Squire complete Stage 100 hat-trick : News". The Stage. Retrieved 31 July 2014.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 "We reveal the winners of The Stage 100 Awards : News". The Stage. Retrieved 31 July 2014.
- ↑ "100 2013: number one : People". The Stage. 19 October 2013. Retrieved 31 July 2014.
- ↑ "100 2014: the list in full : People". The Stage. 2 May 2014. Retrieved 31 July 2014.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 "BBC Radio 4 – Woman's Hour – The Power List 2013". Bbc.co.uk. 1 January 1970. Retrieved 31 July 2014.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 http://www.atgtickets.com/uploads/media/44/35305.doc
- ↑ Riah Matthews, "Rosemary Squire of Ambassador Theatre Group on Live Nation takeover", This is Nottingham, 23 February 2010. Retrieved 20 November 2012.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 http://www.atgtickets.com/uploads/media/44/34161.doc
- ↑ Kate Rankine, "Business profile: Impresario who never recovered from being stage-struck", The Telegraph, 4 January 2003. Retrieved 20 November 2012.
- ↑ 11.0 11.1
- ↑ http://www.atgtickets.com/uploads/media/44/34167.doc
- ↑ http://www.atgtickets.com/uploads/media/44/34187.doc
- ↑ http://www.atgtickets.com/uploads/media/44/34188.doc
- ↑ "Aylesbury Vale District Council • Operator chosen for Aylesbury Waterside Theatre". Aylesburyvaledc.gov.uk. Retrieved 31 July 2014.
- ↑ http://www.atgtickets.com/uploads/media/44/34186.doc
- ↑
- ↑ 18.0 18.1 18.2 18.3 18.4 "ATG's Panter and Squire complete Stage 100 hat-trick : News". The Stage. Retrieved 31 July 2014.
- ↑ 19.0 19.1 "London's 1000 most influential people 2010: Theatre – Home – London Evening Standard". Thisislondon.co.uk. 15 November 2010. Retrieved 31 July 2014.
- ↑ "Manchester Gets it First: Following the success of GHOST The Musical at the Opera House, The Ambassador Theatre Group pledges to launch more new shows in the city | London Theatre". Westendtheatre.com. 16 May 2011. Retrieved 31 July 2014.
- ↑ "What's On: Music, Film, & Things To Do in Manchester – Manchester Evening News". Citylife.co.uk. Retrieved 31 July 2014.
- ↑
- ↑ "ATG Magazine Autumn/Winter 2008 by ATG Tickets". ISSUU. Retrieved 31 July 2014.
- ↑ "Evening Standard theatre awards 1955–2002 – News – London Evening Standard". Thisislondon.co.uk. 12 November 2002. Retrieved 31 July 2014.
- ↑ "Nick Payne's Constellations wins best play at ES theatre awards : News". The Stage. Retrieved 31 July 2014.
- ↑
- ↑
- ↑ "SHOWBIZ | Olivier awards: Winners in full". BBC News. 15 February 2002. Retrieved 31 July 2014.
- ↑
- ↑
- ↑ "250 of the Most Influential People in Greater Manchester". Shop.menmedia.co.uk. Retrieved 31 July 2014.
- ↑ 32.0 32.1
- ↑ "ATG retains top spot in Stage 100 : News". The Stage. Retrieved 31 July 2014.
- ↑ http://www.thestage.co.uk/news/2014/12/atgs-panter-squire-break-andrew-lloyd-webbers-record-top-stage-100-sixth-year-row/. Missing or empty
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(help) - ↑ "EDITOR’S NOTES:". Feed.ne.cision.com. Retrieved 31 July 2014.
- ↑
- ↑
- ↑
- ↑ Louise Jury, "Howard Panter and Rosemary Squire – Mr & Mrs West End", London Evening Standard, 6 November 2009. Retrieved 20 November 2012.
- ↑ David Teather. "Howard Panter, theatrical ambassador | Business". The Guardian. Retrieved 31 July 2014.
- ↑ "Howard Panter and Rosemary Squire – Mr & Mrs West End – Theatre – Going Out – London Evening Standard". Thisislondon.co.uk. 6 November 2009. Retrieved 31 July 2014.
External links
- Ambassador Theatre Group Website
- First Family Entertainment Website
- Sonia Friedman Productions Website
- Exponent Private Equity Group