Daniel Evans to Step Down as Artistic Director of Sheffield Theatres
By: Tyler Peterson Dec. 02, 2015
Daniel Evans said today, "I am hugely grateful to the entire team at Sheffield Theatres and I'm deeply proud of the bold, passionate and enriching work we've achieved together. I am also excited for the organisation as it begins the search for its new Artistic Director. This is one of the best jobs in theatre in the country and it has been a real privilege to lead the organisation for the last seven years. I will miss the city and its people very much and I'll always feel a deep connection with South Yorkshire."
Neil Adleman, Chair of the Board commented, "During his seven years as Artistic Director, Daniel Evans has ensured that Sheffield Theatres retains its position as one of the UK's leading regional theatres. He has delivered many memorable productions, helped us reach new audiences and provided inspirational leadership for the organisation. The Board and staff of Sheffield Theatres all bid Daniel farewell with grateful thanks and appreciation."
Daniel Evans took over as Artistic Director of Sheffield Theatres in 2009, and reopened the Crucible Theatre in 2010 after a major £15m refurbishment. A major revival of An Enemy of the People with Anthony Sher launched his inaugural season. It was the start of a critically acclaimed tenure, which has seen the company win 10 UK Theatre Awards including Best Musical Production (This Is My Family), Best New Play (Bull), Best Touring Production (The Full Monty) in 2013, Translations in 2014 and in 2015, Twelfth Night. Its track record for creating ambitious and exciting work on its three stages was recognised in 2013 and 2014 when Sheffield Theatres won the Regional Theatre of the Year Award for an unprecedented two consecutive years in the Stage Awards.
Under Evans' leadership Sheffield Theatres has produced six of Shakespeare's greatest plays: Hamlet, Othello, Macbeth, The Winter's Tale, Twelfth Night and Romeo & Juliet; four seasons celebrating the work of David Hare (2011), Michael Frayn (2012) Brian Friel (2014) and Sarah Kane (2015), and major musical productions of Me & My Girl, Company, My Fair Lady, Lionel Bart's Oliver! and Anything Goes, with Show Boat to open this month.
Evans has showcased new writing across all the spaces at the theatre - with new musicals including Tim Firth's award-winning This is My Family and the forthcoming Flowers for Mrs Harris; and new plays including Bryony Lavery's Queen Coal, Mike Bartlett's Bull (which transferred to the Young Vic) and Robin Hooper's Love Your Soldiers. He also established a policy of bringing the best of work from London to Sheffield with regional premières of Lucy Prebble's The Effect, Alexi Kaye Campbell's The Pride, and Penelope Skinner's The Village Bike.
His production of The Full Monty enjoyed a three week, sell-out run at the Lyceum in 2013 before touring the UK and then transferring into the West End. Sheffield Theatres also enjoyed international success at the beginning of 2013 when it transferred its production of Mike Bartlett's Bull to the 59E59 Theaters in New York as part of the Brits Off-Broadway Festival. The same production will return to the Young Vic this month following its successful run there in 2014.
He was responsible for the establishment of Sheffield People's Theatre - an intergenerational company of community players who have staged several major productions featuring over 100 participants including The Sheffield Mysteries and Camelot: The Shining City.
Evans not only excelled as a director - his performances on the company's stages in The Pride and Stephen Sondheim's Company will long be remembered. He also oversaw the refurbishment of the Lyceum Theatre helping to secure the theatre's long term future at the forefront of British theatre.
The role of Artistic Director of Sheffield Theatres will be advertised in January 2016.
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