- Dr Dominique Bouchard appointed as Shakespeare Birthplace Trust’s inaugural Creative Director
- Role established as part of new strategy by charity that brings everyone together through Shakespeare to experience and spark conversations about his life, times and work today
- Professor Charlotte Scott takes up role as Director of Shakespeare Scholarship to shape scholarly framework underpinning the Trust’s creative direction.
Shakespeare Birthplace Trust, the leading UK charity that brings everyone together through Shakespeare to experience and spark conversations about his life, times and work today, has appointed its first Creative Director.
Dr Dominique Bouchard, currently Heritage and Engagement Director at Leeds Castle in Kent, will take up the new post of Creative Director from 1 June 2026. Dr Bouchard is already in touch with her new team to deliver on Shakespeare Birthplace Trust’s new creative vision.
The role of Creative Director was established in the charity’s new strategy.
As one of the UK’s leading museums - proudly based in Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire - Shakespeare Birthplace Trust aims to unite its places, collections, research and learning in ways that ignite creativity. Through its unique buildings, collections and award-winning education programmes, it creates space for conversation, discovery and curiosity through Shakespeare and Stratford-upon-Avon.
Rachael North, Chief Executive of the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust, said: “The story of Shakespeare in Stratford speaks to something creative in all of us; it’s a place of inspiration and shared history. Our creativity will bring people together, transforming lives and communities through Shakespeare. We are uniquely placed to tell this next chapter of the Shakespeare story.
“Dominique and her team will support Stratford’s creative economy by collaborating with partners to co-create new exhibitions and experiences. She will play an integral role in celebrating our world class collections and archives, engaging diverse audiences and making the Trust’s historic properties and collections even more accessible.”
Dr Dominique Bouchard commented: “Heritage isn’t ultimately about buildings or objects. It’s about people and the meanings we make together.
“Shakespeare in Stratford is an astonishing inheritance, and I’m thrilled to join the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust at this moment of renewal, uniting our remarkable places, collections, research and learning to create extraordinary experiences that inspire curiosity and open up Shakespeare’s world and what it can mean today.
“This is a unique opportunity to help people connect to Shakespeare in places that shaped his life and family, sparking conversation and bringing people together.”
The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust is also appointing a Director of Shakespeare Scholarship.
Professor Charlotte Scott will take on the new position, reporting to the Creative Director. She will provide intellectual and strategic leadership for the charity’s Shakespearean mission.
The role ensures that inclusive, rigorous, innovative and contemporary scholarship underpins all aspects of the public programme and strengthens the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust’s national and international reputation as a leading authority on the life, work and legacies of William Shakespeare.
Rachael North added: “I am looking forward to working with Dominique and Charlotte to ensure Shakespeare’s story continues to inspire and resonate for generations to come.”
Formed in 1847 and entrusted by an Act of Parliament, Shakespeare Birthplace Trust cares for a remarkable range of places, objects and archives – from the five Shakespeare family homes to over one million items in its world class collections.
Every year, Shakespeare Birthplace Trust connects with millions of people, in person and online from across the world. Award-winning learning and outreach programmes – including the nationwide Shakespeare Week – inspire nearly two million primary school pupils, teachers and families each year.
Founded in 2014, Shakespeare Week (23 – 29 March 2026) provides primary school aged children with opportunities for enjoyable early experiences of Shakespeare. It allows pupils, teachers, parents and home educators to access hundreds of free resources including online workshops, storytellings and cross-curricular materials linked to Shakespeare's life, times and works.
Find out more via: www.shakespeare.org.uk
ENDS
For further information please contact [email protected].
Notes to Editors
Dr Dominique Bouchard
Dominique is currently Heritage and Engagement Director at Leeds Castle, the stunning medieval castle set on two islands in Kent. Previously, she was Head of Learning and Interpretation at English Heritage and has nearly twenty years’ experience working in museums in Hong Kong, Ireland and the UK. Trained as a historian and curator, Dominique is a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society and Society of Antiquaries of London and regularly advises international bodies in the areas of museums, heritage and divided societies. Dominique is passionate about empowering communities to share their own stories.
About the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust
The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust, formed in 1847, is the charity that cares for the world’s greatest Shakespeare heritage in his hometown of Stratford-upon-Avon. It is the global centre for learning about and experiencing the works, life and times of the world’s best-known writer.
Through the five historic Shakespeare family homes (Shakespeare’s Birthplace, Shakespeare’s New Place, Anne Hathaway’s Cottage, Mary Arden’s Farm, Hall’s Croft), internationally designated museum, library and archive collections, award-winning learning programmes and digital channels, it provides imaginative, immersive and interactive opportunities for people of all ages and backgrounds to get up-close-and-personal with Shakespeare.
The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust is a charity which generates its income through the support of visitors, donors and volunteers. In April 2018 it was granted National Portfolio funding from Arts Council England, enabling new creative and outreach programmes with a particular focus on communities which are currently less engaged in arts, culture and heritage.
Shakespeare Birthplace Trust Acts: https://www.parliament.uk/about/living-heritage/transformingsociety/towncountry/towns/collections/collections-shakespeare/shakespeare-birthplace-trust-/
