The organisation behind Official London Theatre, the Society of London Theatre (SOLT), are thrilled that former SOLT president, Eleanor Lloyd, has received an OBE in the New Year Honours list 2025 for her services to theatre.
Eleanor Lloyd is an award-winning theatre producer and the current Vice-President of SOLT. She was President from 2020-2024 and led the London theatre sector through the pandemic, championing its reopening and continued recovery. She oversaw the many initiatives to bring back audience confidence, including the See It Safely campaign. In her last year as President, she supported the strategic review of SOLT following the appointment of new Co-CEOs, Claire Walker and Hannah Essex, and initiatives including the creation of an Associate Membership programme for those otherwise under-represented in the Society’s membership.
As a Theatre Producer, Eleanor’s productions include Witness For The Prosecution at County Hall, Shifters, Emilia, Nell Gwynn, Vardy v Rooney: The Wagatha Christie Trial, Constellations, and Handbagged.
Eleanor currently serves on the boards of new writing venue theatre503, the new producers’ charity Stage One, and Bretforton Grange, a rural retreat to support the future of theatre-making. She was formerly on the board of Oxford Playhouse.
Reacting to the news, Eleanor Lloyd commented, “Alongside my work as a theatre producer, I am proud to have played a part in helping the theatre sector navigate the devastating pandemic closure and fragile recovery. In 2020, we came together as an industry to do everything we could to protect the people, the shows, and the spaces that make British theatre world-leading. I am honoured to be recognised with an OBE. Theatre is a team sport and it is only right, in this moment, to acknowledge the many tenacious people who shared their time, encouragement, and wisdom in the darkest days of the pandemic, and who continue to work doggedly to make our shows and our industry so brilliant today.”
SOLT & UK Theatre Co-CEOs Claire Walker and Hannah Essex said, “We are over the moon that Eleanor has been recognised for her tireless contribution to our sector both in terms of her award-winning productions and her stewardship of the industry through the pandemic and recovery. She tackled a range of unprecedented and multifaceted issues with grace, humour and generosity of spirit, and it has been an honour to work with her. Her support for SOLT members and the theatre sector has been unwavering, and she continues to champion the unique power of theatre to change lives.”
Read about who else has been honoured in the full list here.