Michael Boyd, Artistic Director of the Royal Shakespeare Company, will step down from the role in 2012.
The announcement of Boyd’s intention to leave was made at the RSC’s AGM today, where the company’s Executive Director Vikki Heywood also revealed that she would step down next year.
Boyd assumed the role of RSC Artistic Director in 2002 and has overseen a period of change that has included the award-winning Histories season, the use of three-year long ensembles, transfers to the West End and Broadway and the rebuilding of the company’s home in Stratford-Upon-Avon.
Speaking about his decision, Boyd said: “This is my 10th AGM as Artistic Director, and next year will be my last. I have always said that it would take 10 years to make a genuine difference in the life and the soul of the company, and though 10 years will not be enough to achieve all that I would like, it will be time for me to pass the challenges on to a new Artistic Director.
Of Heywood, he added: “Her shrewd insight, her tremendous energy, and her robust rigour have made all our achievements possible. Our brilliant, wonderful company of every conceivable skill and discipline has made them a reality.”
At today’s AGM it was revealed that the RSC played to 90% capacity in Stratford, London and Newcastle in 2010/11, and welcomed more than 500,000 additional day visitors to the transformed Royal Shakespeare and Swan theatres.
Heywood commented: “I am immensely proud to have led the team that built arguably the finest theatre for Shakespeare in the world, which is loved by both artists and audiences. Delivering a £112.8m transformation project, which included a multi-award-winning theatre building, on time and on budget, has been one of the greatest achievements of my career. Michael and I have decided to leave at the same time because that is the right decision for the company. This is a planned and slow departure with a progressive transformation to a new leadership who will take the company forward for the next decade.”
The next year looks like a busy one for Boyd and Heywood to bow out with, including the London transfer of Matilda The Musical and the World Shakespeare Festival.
The RSC is hoping to announce Boyd’s successor in spring 2012.
MA