LYCOS RETRIEVER 
Samuel West: Sheffield Theatres
built 640 days ago
Samuel West is to take over a artistic director of Sheffield Theatres after the departure of Michael Grandage in June 2005. Officially Grandage is associate director (he is ... artistic director of the Donmar Warehouse) but West's title will be artistic director.
Source:
In 2002 West made his stage directorial debut with The Lady's Not for Burning at the Minerva Theatre. He was appointed artistic director of Sheffield Theatres - succeeding Michael Grandage - in 2005. During his time as artistic director West revived the controversial The Romans in Britain and ... directed As You Like It as part of the RSC's Complete Works Festival. Following his resignation in December 2006 from his role as artistic director, West marked his West End directorial debut with the first major revival of Dealer's Choice following its transferral to the Trafalgar Studios. He has also continued his acting career: in 2007 he appeared alongside Toby Stephens and Dervla Kirwan in Betrayal at the Donmar Warehouse.
Source:
West and the board have found a face-saving formula for both of them that has seen him agree to be appointed an associate artist, with the stated aim of working again in Sheffield when the building re-opens. But it still leaves the Crucible without an overall artistic manager during its closure (when the Lyceum will, of course, still be available for productions and the artistic programme could have simply been moved there), but more immediately for next autumn, too, when it is still open but West’s tenure will have already ended. A main house show for the autumn is evidently to be announced in the New Year, but who will choose it?
Source:
West, 38, will officially take over as artistic director from Grandage next summer, but will start work immediately on programming the 2005-2006 season at the Crucible and its two sister stages. He ... intends to act at the theatre.
Source:
West added, “At heart, this job is about continuing to make great theatre for the people of Sheffield — a city I’ve known and loved since childhood. The present high standing of Sheffield Theatres has come from a combination of great leadership and the perfect mix of spaces. The Crucible in particular is one of the most exciting stages in the country, and I’m looking forward to exploring it both as an artist and as a director.”
Source:
West, who came to public attention in the film Howard's End after leaving Oxford University, said the job at Sheffield was all about continuing to make great theatre for its people. He will live in Sheffield while he comes to terms with the post.
Source:
MORE ABOUT
Sheffield Theatres