The National Theatre of Great Britain To Open Office in New York

The National Theatre of Great Britain announced today that it will be opening a New York-based office to oversee all of its North American activities.

Nick Starr, Executive Director of The National Theatre said, "The National Theatre has been very grateful to be so warmly welcomed by American audiences over the years. We have a continuing appetite to bring our very best work to the US, both productions on stage and The National Theatre Live cinema screenings. It is also a great opportunity to align The National Theatre’s efforts with the indefatigable work and support of the American Associates of The National Theatre. Establishing this office will allow us to build on existing relationships with American theatre companies, and to continue to foster a theatrical dialogue involving artists from both sides of the Atlantic."

"We are delighted to have appointed Tim Levy to lead our North American operation. Nicholas Hytner (Director of the NT) and I worked closely with Tim at the National for several years, before he moved to New York. He has since worked with our New York producing partner Bob Boyett on a large number of productions, including all of our New York transfers, so has experience of both the National’s work and American theatre," He further explained. "We want to take this moment to thank Bob Boyett for his extremely generous support of The National Theatre over the last ten years and are delighted that his service to British theatre was recently recognised by his appointment as CBE (Commander of the British Empire). We hope to continue to work with Bob as a co-producer on shows in the future and remain extremely grateful for his producing talent and experience."

Bob Boyett said, "Working with The National Theatre has been a source of deep pleasure and pride for me for almost a decade. Under Nicholas Hytner and Nick Starr's leadership, it has been gratifying to watch the National flourish and to have produced many of their most notable productions in New York. Their new North American operation will be in very safe hands with my colleague and friend, Tim Levy, and I look forward to continuing to work with the National for a long time to come."

Most recently on Broadway with One Man, Two Guvnors and War Horse (which continues its run at Lincoln Center Theater until January 6, 2013), the National's work in New York has also included: The Pitmen Painters (co-production with Live Theatre, Newcastle), The Seafarer, Coram Boy, Primo, The History Boys, The Pillowman, Democracy and Jumpers. Nationally, the US tour of War Horse, which began in Los Angeles in June, will visit 27 cities in its first year.

Other North American touring has included Phèdre with Helen Mirren at the Shakespeare Theatre Company/Sidney Harman Hall, Washington DC; Happy Days with Fiona Shaw at the Kennedy Center and BAM; and Katie Mitchell's production of Waves as part of the Lincoln Center Festival. Audiences in over 100 cinemas and performing arts venues across North America are able to see NT productions via its National Theatre Live series of screenings from the South Bank; forthcoming titles include Julie Walters in The Last of the Haussmans, Simon Russell Beale in the title role of Timon of Athens and John Lithgow in The Magistrate.

As well as presenting its work in the United States, the National has regularly presented American work at its home base in London including recently Fela!, Steppenwolf's August: Osage County and NT productions of works by contemporary American writers including Lisa D'Amour, JT Rogers, Tony Kushner, Stephen Sondheim, David Mamet, John Guare, Sam Shepherd and Tracy Letts.

The Royal National Theatre is located at Upper Ground, London, SE1 9PX. Visit www.nationaltheatre.org.uk for further information. You may also contact the theatre at its  Box Office +44 (0) 20 7452 3000 and Switchboard +44 (0) 20 7452 3333.