Michael Attenboroigh has announced that he will step down from his post as artistic director of the Almeida Theatre next spring after eleven years in order to concentrate on his directing.
He said, "My 11 years as artistic director of the Almeida Theatre have been consistently thrilling and rewarding, but I have decided that, after running theatres for the past 32 years, I now want to concentrate solely on my directing.
"I would like to place on record my immense gratitude to the superb staff at the Almeida, all of whom have played an integral part in everything we have achieved.
"Whoever succeeds me will find themselves blessed with a wonderful and unique theatre space, a hugely loyal audience and a board and staff that are second to none.”
Christopher Rodrigues CBE of the Almeida board said of Attenborough's time at the helm of the theatre, "He has taken the Almeida from strength to strength locally, nationally and internationally by presenting a truly diverse programme of work of which we are all immeasurably proud.
"He has also been the driving force behind Almeida Projects, an inspirational outreach programme for young people. Michael has established the Almeida as a powerhouse of British Theatre and secured its financial condition.
"We count ourselves immensely fortunate to have benefitted from his leadership for over a decade and wish him every success in his future directorial career."