Michael Attenborough is to step down as artistic director of the Almeida Theatre after 11 years.

He will leave the venue in spring next year to focus on directing.

Attenborough said: “My 11 years as artistic director of the Almeida Theatre have been consistently thrilling and rewarding, but I have decided that, after running theatres for the past 32 years, I now want to concentrate solely on my directing. I would like to place on record my immense gratitude to the superb staff at the Almeida, all of whom have played an integral part in everything we have achieved.”

He added that his successor would “find themselves blessed with a wonderful and unique theatre space”.

During his tenure, there have been 32 premieres programmed at the theatre.

He has directed productions including Reasons to be Pretty, The Knot of the Heart, In a Dark House and, most recently, King Lear, which is running at the theatre until November.

As artistic director, Attenborough created Almeida Projects, a creative programme for young people, which culminated in 2008 with the creation of the Young Friends of the Almeida. It currently has more than 500 members.

Christopher Rodrigues, chair of the Almeida’s board, said Attenborough had established the venue as a “powerhouse of British theatre”, and added he had “secured its financial position”.

“We count ourselves immensely fortunate to have benefited from his leadership for over a decade and wish him every success in his future directorial career. Our challenge now is to secure a worthy successor for one of the most exciting roles in British theatre,” he said.