Dacre to replace Sansom at Northampton

Published: 4 April 2013
Reporter: Steve Orme

James Dacre

Northampton’s Royal and Derngate has appointed James Dacre as its new artistic director.

He replaces Laurie Sansom who has left to head up the National Theatre of Scotland.

Dacre, who won the 2010 Olivier Award for best new play for Katori Hall’s The Mountaintop at Theatre503, said, “Laurie Sansom is a huge act to follow.

“I feel highly privileged to be joining the exceptional team at Royal and Derngate which is one of the most exciting venues in Britain to be creating theatre today.

“Few theatres enjoy such a close relationship with their audience. As the new artistic director, I want Royal and Derngate to continue living at the heart of its community while inspiring the country’s most brilliant writers, actors and directors to create original theatre that will address the major concerns of our time.

“Northampton, with its rich mix of old and new, urban and rural, liberal and conservative, is the perfect place to do that.”

Dacre trained on the ITV / Channel 4 Regional Theatre Scheme at the New Vic Theatre, Newcastle-under-Lyme where he later became resident artistic associate.

His other directing credits include As You Like It for Shakespeare’s Globe and on two European tours, King James Bible for the National Theatre and The Accrington Pals at the Royal Exchange, Manchester.

His première of The Thrill of Love by Amanda Whittington, which started at the New Vic, has just transferred to St James Theatre in London.

Simon Fitch, senior manager, Arts Council England, said, “James comes to Northampton having developed a strong reputation as a director in regional theatres nationwide as well as in London.

“It’s exciting that Royal and Derngate has once again attracted one of the country’s most exciting talents to take on its artistic leadership and we look forward to seeing James shape an artistic programme that audiences in Northampton will find entertaining, imaginative and relevant.”

Dacre will take up his new post in the summer.

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