The Polka Theatre is welcoming a new artistic director to replace Jonathan Lloyd after seven years leading the Wimbledon based children’s theatre company.

Peter Glanville will be moving from his current position as artistic director/chief executive at Little Angel Theatre in Islington in November.

He said: “I feel very privileged to have been offered the position of artistic director at Polka Theatre. The company has a great history and I’m looking forward to the prospect of continuing to raise its profile in the future with ground-breaking world-class theatre for children.”

At Little Angel Theatre Mr Glanville directed numerous critically acclaimed productions for children including Carol Ann Duffy’s The Tear.

Before joining Little Angel Theatre, he directed more than 40 productions and installations for Kazzum, a company he founded in 1989.

He is also founder and festival director of SUSPENSE: London Puppetry Festival and runs the Actors Company at artsdepot.

He is joining the theatre at a time when cuts in arts spending mean there is an increasing need for charities like Polka which focus on children's creative development.

Sarah King, chair of Polka's Board of Trustees, said: "This is a pivotal time for Polka as the company is faced with some very exciting opportunities as well as a number of significant challenges. In Peter we feel we have found someone with the necessary vision and experience to ensure we turn our ambitions into reality. We are delighted he will be joining us."