Adrian Jackson, Chief Executive and Artistic Director of Wolverhampton Grand Theatre, has won Business Person Of The Year at the 2018 Express & Star Business Awards.

His win comes at a time of huge growth for the theatre and three years after joining the venue, Adrian has achieved a significant amount which began with a full refurbishment of the front of house areas in 2016.

The £1.2m refurbishment has improved the entire theatre-going experience, has VIP and hospitality offerings, space to hire for meetings and business use and has seen customer spend increase.

Adrian has also seen the transition of the Grand Theatre from a solely receiving venue back to a theatre that also produces its own productions in house. 2017’s production of Brassed Off was produced entirely by the Grand Theatre and then transferred to the Devonshire Park Theatre to play to audiences in Eastbourne. This year’s in-house production will be Amanda Whittington’s Ladies’ Day.

With Adrian’s input, pantomime continues to go from strength to strength, winning Best Midlands Pantomime for the past two years running at the What’s On Readers Awards. Music Hall tradition has also been revived with variety entertainment bills produced exclusively for the Grand Theatre. On his win, Adrian said:

“I am completely delighted and honoured to have received Business Person Of The Year. I made my first appearance on stage at the Grand as a child and now to have led it for the last three years has been has been extremely rewarding.  

"I would like to thank the staff for fully supporting my vision and working so diligently to put Wolverhampton Grand Theatre back on the map!”