ONE of the region's leading theatres has appointed a new chief executive.

Daniel Bates will take over at York Theatre Royal at the end of January.

He is executive director of the West Yorkshire Playhouse, in Leeds, a post he had held since 2001, and he has worked in theatre for 20 years.

Mr Bates was born in East London and studied stage management at the Central School of Speech and Drama.

Prior to his role at Leeds, he was general manager, company manager and director of corporate affairs over six years.

Before he went to the West Yorkshire Playhouse, he worked as a stage manager at the Theatre Royal, in Windsor, and as a stage manager at the Riding Lights Theatre Company, in York.