The Stage

Rickson will leave Royal Court in 2007

Published Wednesday 5 October 2005 at 11:25 by Alistair Smith

Royal Court artistic director Ian Rickson has announced that he will quit the Sloane Square venue at the end of next year’s 50th anniversary season, leaving one of the most prized jobs in UK theatre up for grabs.

Rickson took over from previous incumbent Stephen Daldry in 1998, moving up to the post from associate director, a position he had held since 1994. During his time as artistic director, he oversaw the centre for new writing’s return to its base after a £25 million refurbishment.

Speaking to The Stage, he said: “The Royal Court is a theatre you should hand over and as an artistic director you can become ossified if you stay too long. It is important to leave while you are still enjoying it and pass it on to someone else. One of the things I love about the Royal Court is the historical narrative of the place.

“I feel very attached and it will be hard to leave. But I think it’s a good moment, at a time of reflection as the venue celebrates its 50th anniversary.”

The venue will advertise for a replacement at the end of this month and Rickson’s successor will take over at the beginning of 2007, following a transitional period working with him. The first season programmed by the new artistic director will be 2007.

Royal Court chairman Anthony Burton added: “Ian has decided he needs to move on and, by the time he leaves, he will have been with us for eight years, which is the third longest tenure in the theatre’s history. He has been an immensely successful artistic director - he came in at a challenging time and got things running very quickly and successfully when we moved back to our Sloane Square base. His artistic contribution has been fantastic. We’ll be very lucky to find anyone of a similar standard [to replace him].”

Next week the Royal Court will unveil plans for its 50th anniversary season on October 11. While full details of the season have not yet been confirmed, it will include the company revisiting a number of previously staged works from its 50-year history. Visitors can nominate up to five choices at www.royalcourttheatre.com