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Dateline: 25th September, 2008
Octagon Seeks New Artistic Director The Octagon Theatre in Bolton, one of Greater Manchester's leading regional theatres, has begun the search for a new artistic director to replace outgoing head Mark Babych, who will leave in June after ten years in the post. Babych has just overseen the very successful 40th anniversary season at the Octagon and has directed the currently running production of The Merchant of Venice. He was originally appointed in the summer of 1999 after the departure of Laurence Till, and has seen the theatre go from near bankruptcy to breaking its own box office records year after year. Recently married, he is leaving the theatre to pursue a career in television. The theatre advertised the post this week — thirty enquiries were received on the first day by e-mail alone — and has also recruited the assistance of Giles Croft of Nottingham Playhouse to help them find the right person for the job. Interviews will take place in November. Executive director John Blackmore told the BTG that as a MRSL 3 theatre, the Octagon has limited resources for recruiting but would be looking for someone who is "experienced as a director but not necessarily as an artistic director" and that they "don't want someone on their way down". The new appointee would be expected to put together a mixed programme of productions to reflect the theatre's mixed audiences and would direct three to four productions per year. Blackmore was very keen to pay tribute to Babych's achievements during his decade in Bolton. When asked whether he was thinking of retiring himself after his forty years in theatre, Blackmore said that - "God willing" - he intends to stay on for a while yet. David Chadderton
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