Michael Longhurst

Michael became Artistic Director of the Donmar in 2019. He launched his tenure with a revival of David Greig’s visionary early play Europe and staged the UK premiere of Mike Lew’s Teenage Dick. Prior to becoming Artistic Director Michael’s previous work for the Donmar included the UK premiere of Amy Herzog’s Belleville, starring James Norton and Imogen Poots, in December 2017. His acclaimed production of Peter Shaffer’s Amadeus at the National Theatre returned for its second run in the Olivier in early 2018. He also directed the celebrated Chichester Festival Theatre revival of Caroline, or Change by Tony Kushner and Jeanine Tesori which transferred to Hampstead Theatre and then to the West End, and is nominated for three Olivier Awards. His production transfers to New York’s Studio 54 with the Roundabout Theatre Company 2020, with Sharon D. Clarke reprising her Olivier Award-winning performance.

Michael’s Royal Court production of Nick Payne’s Constellations starring Sally Hawkins and Rafe Spall transferred to the West End, winning the 2012 Evening Standard Award for Best Play and receiving four Olivier Award nominations. The production also ran on Broadway starring Jake Gyllenhaal and Ruth Wilson, who was Tony-nominated. He also directed Gyllenhaal in his American stage debut at the Roundabout Theatre, New York in Nick Payne’s If There Is I Haven’t Found It Yet.



Other theatre includes The Son (Kiln), Gloria (Hampstead Theatre), Bad Jews (West End, Theatre Royal Bath & UK tour), They Drink It In The Congo and Carmen Disruption (Almeida Theatre), ‘Tis Pity She’s A Whore and The Winter’s Tale (Sam Wanamaker Playhouse, Shakespeare’s Globe), Linda, The Art of Dying, Remembrance Day (Royal Court), A Number (Nuffield & Young Vic), Cannibals (Royal Exchange, Manchester), The History Boys (Sheffield Crucible), Dealer’s Choice (Royal & Derngate), The World Of Extreme Happiness (NT Shed), Stovepipe (site-specific promenade with the National Theatre, HighTide & Bush Theatre, Sunday Times’ Top Ten Theatre Events of the Decade), Midnight Your Time (HighTide), On The Beach (Bush Theatre), On The Record and Gaudeamus (Arcola), dirty butterfly (Young Vic, winner of the Jerwood Directors Award), Guardians (Pleasance & Theatre503, Fringe First Award).



Michael trained in directing at Mountview after reading Philosophy at Nottingham University.