Meet our Senior Team

Jon Gilchrist

Artistic Director & Chief Executive

From 2018 to 2022, Jon was Executive Director of HOME in Manchester the city’s centre for live performances and international contemporary art and film. He worked as Executive Director of the Bush Theatre between 2014 and 2018 and in this time he led on their major capital redevelopment and helped expand the organisation’s reach as a centre of excellence for diverse emerging talent. Before this he worked in marketing roles at theatres across the North West for ten years, including The Lowry in Salford, the Octagon Theatre Bolton, and the Dukes in Lancaster. Jon is the Joint President of UK Theatre and is also on the boards of the Edge Theatre in Manchester and Oldham Coliseum.

Chilina Madon

Executive Director

Chilina has worked in the arts for over 20 years, joining Birmingham Hippodrome in 2007 and becoming a Director in 2019. Chilina oversees areas of external affairs including Marketing, Sales and Communications. She also leads on Business Strategy, the venue’s Circle Lounge and works alongside Artistic Director and Chief Executive Jon Gilchrist on the programming of Birmingham Hippodrome’s main stage. Chilina is former Trustee at Oxford Playhouse where she served an almost five-year term.

Steve Eames

Interim Director of Finance, IT and Compliance

Steve is our Interim Director of Finance, IT and Compliance, and joined us in January 2024. He is a Chartered Accountant and has worked in finance and administration in the arts and charity sector for over 25 years, including at English National Opera and Southbank Centre. Most recently Steve worked as Chief Operating Officer at the Royal Shakespeare Company, leading Estates, Finance, Health and Safety, HR, IT and Legal. Steve also previously led Front of House, Catering and Retail departments.

Chris Sudworth

Creative Director

Chris joined Birmingham Hippodrome in 2017. He leads on programming for both our stages, our produced work, Hippodrome Associates and artist development activity; and oversees accessible performances, Learning & Participation.Previously, Chris was Executive Director of The Old Rep, and the first Creative Director of The Core at Corby Cube: opening and establishing a venue with young people and communities at its heart, developing new work and partnerships nationally and internationally.Prior to that, he was a freelance director and producer and led a national young people’s leadership programme for Arts Council England. Chris is a Board Member of Wriggle Dance Theatre, an informal adviser to Beatfreeks, and a member of the More Than a Moment  working group, championing a more equitable arts and culture sector in the West Midlands and beyond.

Ruth Power

Director of People & Culture

Ruth is a Human Resources specialist with over a decade of experience working across charities and education covering all aspects of the people profession. Ruth has joined us from KEMP Hospice where she was part of the Senior Leadership Team, working alongside the Board of Trustees to create and deliver the People Strategy. Ruth holds strong values in equity and is a firm believer that people are what make an organisation and are a company’s most important asset. In 2021 Ruth became a Co-opted Governor at a primary school in Stourbridge. Ruth has been an avid theatre goer from a very young age and is excited to be part of such an iconic establishment in Birmingham.