Christopher Haydon, artistic director of West London's Gate Theatre, has announced his departure after holding the position for five years.
He said, “the decision to leave the Gate Theatre has not been an easy one—I love this building and the people I work with here very very deeply. It has been an incredible honour to make work in this space, and I’m so proud of the things that we have achieved and the artists that we have championed together.
"But I have always believed that the Gate derives its unique energy from the process of those who work here discovering everything anew. After five years at the helm, I believe it is now time to pass the baton on to someone new—to take this remarkable, tiny yet epic room and make it their own.
"Whilst I am looking forward to pursuing a number of new freelance projects that will be announced soon, I will always be a little bit jealous of whoever it is that gets to run this theatre and continue driving it in to the future—they will have one of the best jobs in British theatre. My sincere thanks go to our staff, our audiences and our supporters.”
Haydon has enjoyed considerable success at the Gate and personally.
The venue's world première Grounded which he directed toured to the US, Sweden and around the UK, winning a Fringe First and an Off West End Award for Best Production. As a freelance director, Haydon's production of 12 Angry Men for Birmingham REP transferred to the West End, twice extending its run, as well as touring the UK.
Haydon's artistic directorship has been marked for his emphasis on diversity and support for emerging theatre makers.
Amongst those whom he has mentored are Caroline Byrne, whose production of The Taming of the Shrew is running at Shakespeare’s Globe, and Ellen McDougall, whose directing credits include The Rolling Stone at Manchester Royal Exchange and the Headlong UK tour of The Glass Menagerie and who will direct Othello at Shakespeare’s Globe.
Prior to joining the Gate Theatre, Christopher Haydon was an associate director at London's Bush Theatre.
The post of Artistic Director at the Gate Theatre will be advertised shortly.