A former actress has been given a leading role which will influence the future of the district's theatres.

Sheena Wrigley, 42, has been appointed head of theatres, arts and festivals in the district and given the remit of raising the profile of all three services.

Miss Wrigley, who was previously chief executive of Harrogate Theatre, described the Alhambra as "stunning." She added: "I want it to be for local people but also on the national map.

"But I will be talking to the staff about their own views on the theatre. It is finding a route between experience on the ground and the aspirations of Bradford Council."

One of her first challenges will be to draft an action plan for theatres, arts and festivals to feed into the Council's cultural strategy, which will be considered by both members of the executive and regeneration and culture scrutiny committees.

"This is a very exciting time to be coming to Bradford. There is a lot of ambition and vision here and I'm looking forward to be a part of that," she said.

Miss Wrigley has been credited with turning around falling ticket sales at Harrogate and making the theatre a popular venue.

She began her career as an actor before teaching drama, directing, producing and writing.

She has a broad theatre background, including working on drama, education programmes with the inmates of Wormwood Scrubs, and with disadvantaged children in north and east London. She was general manager of the Temba Theatre when it was Britain's leading black theatre company.

Adam Renton has become manager of theatres, concert halls and community arts focusing on the hands-on management of the district's theatres and other venues.

He has already been heavily involved in the work to restore the ceiling at historic St George's Hall which will reopen to the public on Sunday with a Viennese New Year Concert.

Mr Renton, 35, began his career working in pubs and hotels. At 18 he was the youngest licensee in Britain when he was appointed general manager of the Farmers Inn at Pudsey. He has also managed Harrogate's West Park Hotel and Valloire in the French Alps.

He has worked for Bradford theatres for eight years, starting as corporate hospitality manager at the Alhambra Theatre and moving through various departments before becoming commercial manger.

He said: "I have a real passion and total dedication towards the future of Bradford theatres. I am very much looking forward to the opening of St George's Hall."