Opera House Manager Appointed

After a thorough recruitment process, Mr Richard McWha will join the Council team as the new Opera House Manager in mid February. This role is a new one for Council and will ensure the Opera House reaches its full potential as a thriving theatre and conference venue.



Community services group manager, Tanya Winter, is thrilled with the appointment. “We had over 20 applications for the position, many of extremely high calibre. Mr McWha had the right mix of skills and experience, as well as that “X-factor” in terms of personality and people skills.”



Mr McWha is originally from Cambridge but currently lives in Christchurch and has been involved in theatre his whole life, as a dancer, actor, director, floor manager, and production manager . He has chaired the Dance and Physical Theatre Trust which stages the annual Body Festival in Christchurch, was the Creative Director of the Linwood Performance Company, the Production Manager for Showbiz Christchurch, and was a trustee on the Odeon Theatre Trust.



Recently he was head of the Performing Arts Department at Linwood College and a Performing Arts Teacher at Rangi Ruru Girls School. Mr McWha has his own business – Pod Arts Management Solutions - which provides management services to artists and arts organisations. He has significant business skills, as well as experience in marketing and event management.



Council looks forward to introducing Mr McWha to the Waitaki district and its people.