FORMER Newcastle University student Philip Bernays has become the new chief executive of the city's Theatre Royal.

The death of the venue's popular boss, 58-year-old Peter Sarah, in April, sparked a nationwide hunt for a suitable replacement. Now the job passes to 45-year-old Mr Bernays, the current chief executive at Cheltenham's Everyman Theatre.

He said last night: "I am thrilled to have been appointed to this position. I know there is a very able team at the theatre and I greatly look forward to working with them.

"I am very proud of everything that has been achieved at the Everyman and will be very sad to leave, as it has become a part of my life. But moving to the Theatre Royal is an opportunity that I cannot refuse."

Married father-of-two Mr Bernays, who was president of Newcastle University's theatre society, will take up his new job in the autumn.

In ten years he has steered the 682-seater Everyman to annual ticket sales of 80 per cent. Although the Tyneside theatre is almost twice the size of the Everyman, Mr Bernays has already programmed shows which have been successful at Newcastle.

John Shipley, chairman of the Newcastle Theatre Royal Trust said: "My colleagues and I are unanimous in recognising that, in Philip Bernays, we have found absolutely the best person for the job."