Donmar Warehouse Appoints Josie Rourke as new Artistic Director

The Donmar Warehouse today announces the appointment of Josie Rourke as the company's new Artistic Director. Rourke takes up the position on 1 January 2012, taking over from Michael Grandage who steps down as Artistic Director at the end of this year after a decade in the role.

This appointment sees Rourke return to the Donmar where she trained on the company's Resident Assistant Director Scheme in 2000 - working alongside Michael Grandage, Nicholas Hytner, Phyllida Lloyd and Sam Mendes. As a director, her work for the Donmar includes Frame 312, World Music and The Cryptogram.

Rourke is currently Artistic Director for the Bush Theatre where she has directed How To Curse by Ian McHugh, Tinderbox by Lucy Kirkwood and 2000, Feet Away and Like a Fishbone by Anthony Weigh, Apologia by Alexi Kaye Campbell and If There Is I Haven't Found It Yet by Nick Payne. Most recently she secured the Bush Theatre's future, by overseeing the company's move to old library building in Shepherd's Bush. The new building will open in Autumn this year.

Prior to joining the Bush she worked for five years as a freelance director and was Associate Director of Sheffield Theatres and Trainee Associate Director at the Royal Court. For Sheffield, she directed World Music and The Unthinkable - both by Steve Waters; Much Ado About Nothing, The Long The Short and The Tall and Kick for Touch. At the Royal Court she directed Crazyblackmuthafuckin'self by DeObia Oparei and Loyal Women by Gary Mitchell.

Her other work includes My Dad's a Birdman (Young Vic); and for the Royal Shakespeare Company, Believe What You Will and King John (part of the RSC Complete Works Season). She has also directed the 24 Hour Plays at The Old Vic Theatre and in New York. Her most recent work outside The Bush includes Twelfth Night and Taming of the Shrew for Chicago Shakespeare Theatre, Here by Eve Ensler for Sky Arts, and the critically acclaimed production of Men Should Weep for the National Theatre. Rourke will direct Catherine Tate and David Tennant in Much Ado About Nothing at the Wyndham's Theatre in May for Sonia Friedman Productions.

Josie Rourke said today, "I am thrilled and honoured to have been asked by the Board of the Donmar Warehouse to become its next Artistic Director. Ten years ago, I started my career as the Resident Assistant Director at the Donmar. Nothing could make me more proud than to return to the place where I began. Both Michael Grandage and Sam Mendes have always been great friends and invaluable mentors and when I take over as the Donmar's Artistic Director I will inherit their legacy of twenty years of wonderful productions, extraordinary performances and great nights out at the theatre.

"Before I begin as Artistic Director of the Donmar, we will open the Bush Theatre's new home. I look forward to celebrating that moment with the Bush's exceptional team and Board of Trustees. With the new building secured, our playwrights' website bushgreen.org reaching its 4,000th member and a remarkably strong year of work, it has never been a more exciting time for the Bush and its audiences."

Michael Grandage commented, "Josie has been a wonderful colleague for many years and I think the Board have made an inspired appointment. She has been part of the Donmar's evolution since her first production as a director and will bring continuity as well a distinct style of her own. Her work at the Bush shows how she has transformed the theatre landscape in London, and the Donmar will now benefit from that energy and leadership. I wish her well as the organisation enters the next exciting stage of its development."

The Chair of the Board of Directors, Lord Chris Smith said, "When we set out to try and find a successor for Michael Grandage, we thought at first it would be impossible. But in Josie we've found the ideal person. She has a terrific track record at the Bush, she has real energy and commitment to theatre of the highest quality, and she will build on the artistic strengths developed over the years at the Donmar by both Sam Mendes and Michael Grandage."

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