Broadway director Ruth Carney moves to Sheffield theatre

Ruth Carney takes on the role at the 84-seat Lantern Theatre in Nether Edge in July

Sheffield's oldest theatre is to get a new artistic director who has previously worked on Broadway and the West End.

Ruth Carney will take on the role at the 84-seat Lantern Theatre in Nether Edge in July.

She said the venue would become an arts centre for the city.

Ms Carney has worked on productions such as Ghost the Musical, Lord of the Rings and the Madness musical Our House.

"After doing these large commercial shows, I'm coming back to somewhere intimate in the heart of the community," she said.

"I'm keen to have a career at one venue, develop its programming and educational offerings to the people of Sheffield and beyond."

The Grade II-listed building in Kenwood Park Road was built in 1893 and launched its first professional season in January after 118 years of amateur dramatics.

Ms Carney said the small size of the theatre would not be a barrier to attracting professional companies.

"Some companies can't get into The Crucible Studio because it's so busy, but need a base in Sheffield," she said.

Ms Carney was associate director at Sheffield Theatres for two years and said the Lantern would work closely with the organisation.