The Stage

Jermyn Street Theatre appoints first artistic director in a decade

Published Tuesday 9 December 2008 at 16:30 by Alistair Smith

Gene David Kirk has been appointed as the new artistic director of Off-West End venue the Jermyn Street Theatre.

Kirk is the first artistic director at the theatre since David Babani, who now runs the Menier Chocolate Factory, worked there a decade ago. Kirk will be in charge of programming the theatre and creating one in-house production a year. While working at Jermyn Street, he will also continue with his work at south London fringe venue Theatre 503, where he is programming director.

“They’ve asked me to take over at Jermyn Street - to re-imagine the theatre as a complete blank canvas,” he explained. “We’ll start in-house productions, co-productions and really try to locate Jermyn Street as an important theatre, geographically in the West End.

“My first programmed production will be in March or April, but in the main it will start from July onwards. In the first year, it will only be one main in-house production, because of costs, but we would be looking at artistic collaborations as we move on. The theatre won’t be a gun for hire, there will be a clear artistic vision. We’re hoping to get some of the bigger names in but, because of my work with Theatre 503, I’m also absolutely committed to development and nurturing new work.”

Kirk added that he was looking to introduce a regular midnight cabaret slot, as well as hosting lunchtime play readings. Current production plans include a one week showcase production of Trumbo, about the Oscar-winning screenwriter Dalton Trumbo. Corin Redgrave is lined up to appear in the show.

General manager Penny Horner, who together with Jermyn Street chairman Howard Jameson made the appointment, added: “It’s our first proper artistic director since David [Babani]. Neil Marcus was our first artistic director before that. When we got to know Gene, when he was directing Crooked Wood here earlier this year, it just seemed to make sense. It was very much led by Howard, who said that we didn’t want to let this chap get away.”