Nikolai Foster is to be the new artistic director of Leicester's Curve Theatre

Nikolai Foster has been appointed the new artistic director of Leicester's Curve Theatre, taking over from Paul Kerryson who has been in the post for 22 years.

Foster will take up the post in January 2015, putting an emphasis on musical theatre, developing drama audiences and engaging with the community.

He joins CEO Fiona Allan, newly appointed commercial director Alister de Ternant and a soon to be appointed chief operating officer, all with the aim of creating a sustainable business model.

Nikolai Foster's recent directing credits includeThe Memory of Water (Stephen Joseph Theatre/New Vic), The Good Person of Sichuan(Mercury Theatre), Beautiful Thing (Arts Theatre/Tour).

Foster said today: "Curve is a remarkable theatre, representing everything I believe theatre should be. I consider it a great honour to build upon the tremendous foundations laid over the past five years by Paul Kerryson, Fiona Allan and the inspirational team in Leicester, which places the community and audiences at the heart of Curve's bold, contemporary and eclectic programming."

Curve opened in 2008, and to date the theatre has staged almost 500 productions across its three performance spaces. Upcoming productions inlucde The Sound of Music directed by Paul Kerryson - who has been artistic director of Leicester Theatre Trust since 1991, first at the Haymarket Theatre and since at the Curve - and a musical version of The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole, aged 13¾.