A temporary replacement for departed theatre manager Robert Jackson has been appointed after a crunch meeting last week.

Steven Day, who worked with Mr Jackson at the Kenneth More Theatre (KMT), will be stepping into the former manager’s position with immediate effect, after news of his shock departure two weeks ago.

Council leader Cllr Keith Prince, who sits on the board of the theatre in Oakfield Road, Ilford, said: “The decision was made to make Mr Day manager for now.

“Other issues involving the theatre were also discussed, but I believe all the scheduled plays and performances are still going ahead as planned.”

Mr Day, 34, has been involved with the KMT since the age of 10 and appeared in many performances there over the years, as well as being responsible for choreography and other areas.

He said: “There’s nowhere else for me to be apart from the theatre.

“A lot of the performances are booked a year in advance and we are already working on next year, so for people that are coming here it’s really business as usual.”

He had been working for the Jack Petchey Foundation until September 2010 and since then had been touring with shows.

“The only difference between then and now is that I’ve got the responsibility,” he said.

“But I’m certain everything is going to be fine.”

Mr Day declined to confirm whether he would be applying for a permanent job at the theatre but his promotion, no matter how temporary, makes him the theatre’s third manager in its 36-year history.

John Lovell, chairman of the theatre’s board, was unavailable for comment.