Gregory Doran, who has served as Artistic Director of the Royal Shakespeare Company in the U.K. for the last decade, is stepping down. Doran has been with the RSC for 35 years and will conclude his tenure as Artistic Director with his final production, the previously reported Richard III starring Arthur Hughes in the title role.
Following the production, Doran will become artistic director emeritus and remain with the RSC until the end of 2023. In the role, Doran will lead projects, direct a production in the Royal Shakespeare Theatre as part of the Shakespeare’s First Folio celebrations in 2023, and train artists.
"It has been a real privilege to be a part of the amazing team leading this great company for this last decade of challenge and achievement," says Doran in a statement. "We have made many strides in making our theatre more inclusive, accessible, diverse, and accountable, but there is always more to do, and I wish whoever succeeds me joy in continuing that work."
Doran began his career with the RSC in 1987 as an actor, going on to become Assistant Director in 1989, Associate Director in 1996, and Chief Associate Director in 2006. He was appointed as Artistic Director in 2012, delivering his first programming with the 2013-2014 season.
As artistic director, Doran has led several initiatives, including the screening of RSC productions in cinemas worldwide in addition to sharing the productions with schools across the U.K. for free. During his tenure, the RSC staged Troilus and Cressida in 2018, its first production with an equally gender-balanced cast and with a disabled actor in a leading Shakespeare role. Charlotte Arrowsmith, an actor who is deaf, played Cassandra.
Throughout his career, Doran has often collaborated with Antony Sher, (King Lear, Death of a Salesman, Henry IV Part I, Henry IV Part II), as well as David Tennant who starred in Richard II and Hamlet. Also among Doran's many productions are the world stage premiere of The Boy in the Dress by David Walliams, and The Witch of Edmonton starring Eileen Atkins.
Doran has been awarded the Sam Wanamaker Award from Shakespeare's Globe Theatre and an Olivier Award for Outstanding Achievement of the Year, the latter following his 2002 season of five rarely-performed Jacobean and Elizabethan plays.
Erica Whyman will continue to serve as acting artistic director as the search for the new artistic director is conducted by the Non-Executive Board, supported by Donna Munday and executive search consultants Green Park. The RSC will announce details online about the application process April 29.
For more information, visit RSC.org.uk.
