Chocolate Factory creator Tarento joins King’s Head

Published Thursday 24 July 2008 at 11:00 by Alistair Smith

Menier Chocolate Factory co-founder Danielle Tarento has joined the King’s Head Theatre in Islington as its artistic director.

Tarento, who alongside producer David Babani was responsible for launching the Menier in Southwark in 2004, will team up with Stephanie Sinclaire at the north London theatre, working as joint artistic directors.

Tarento told The Stage: “Stephanie and I have known each other for years. It’s something we’d been talking about for a while and now seems the right time.

“I’m overseeing the running of the pub as well, in a similar way to how it worked at the Chocolate Factory.

“Realistically, as it was at the Chocolate Factory, we know where the money comes from. So getting that right is as important [as the theatre side].”

Tarento explained that as the venue is already programmed until January, she would be focusing on the bar at first and is investigating the idea of re-introducing food and a pre-theatre meal deal similar to the one she developed at the Menier.

She added: “Stephanie and I are sharing the role. We are both artistic directors. At the Chocolate Factory, I spent more time than I ever wanted to in the restaurant and less doing production. But here, once the restaurant and bar is all set up, I will be spending much more time on the theatrical side.”

The King’s Head was founded in 1970 by Dan Crawford, becoming London’s first ‘pub theatre’.

Crawford ran the venue until his death in 2005, when his partner and long-serving associate artistic director Stephanie Sinclaire took over.

Tarento left the Menier Chocolate Factory in 2006 and has since been working in casting. During her time at the Menier, Tarento received the 2005 Evening Standard Award for Best Newcomer with Babani. Both were also listed at number 20 in the 2006 edition of the Stage 100 - The Stage’s annual list of the theatre industry’s most influential figures.