THE Lighthouse Theatre has appointed its first ever artistic producer, it has been announced.

Stephen Wrentmore, who has worked as a director at London's Royal National Theatre and at The Crucible in Sheffield, will take up the new post in June.

He said: "My job begins with an invitation to the many diverse publics, artists and audiences that we serve, to come and be a part of what we do.

"Lighthouse is a beacon of artistic excellence and I am determined it will shine even brighter as we go forward."

The Poole venue closed for four months on Saturday, as part of a £5.3 million upgrade that will eventually see the main entrance moved to a central position and the transformation of the Studio Theatre.

There will also be new education and rehearsal space created, new dressing rooms, a green room, new stage door entrance, improved security, a new floor mechanism in the Concert Hall and a number of other improvements.

Stephen, who has staged plays in Russia, Kosovo, Latvia, Kazakhstan, Denmark, Sweden and Norway, said: "We have a vision that 20 per cent of the work seen at Lighthouse should be created, initiated or produced in-house.

"So it is my ambition to ensure that we encourage and enable that, by inviting the outside in and creating an environment conducive to supporting that."

Since 2011 Stephen has lived and worked in America, initially as associate artistic director and director of learning at Arizona Theatre Company, and latterly as the visiting Professor of Theatre at Oklahoma City University.

On his latest appointment, Lighthouse chief executive Elspeth McBain said: "Stephen arrives at Lighthouse at a particularly exciting time in its development.

"We are undertaking a major upgrade of our facilities this summer that will ensure we provide a world class experience for everyone who comes here whether as a performer, producer or audience member.

"We can now develop our programme to respond to both our community and the theatre sector nationally and with his proven track record and inspirational ideas, Stephen's appointment is a hugely important part of that future."