Dot Wood MBE is to step down at the end of July as artistic producer of pioneering theatre-in-education and children's theatre company M6 of Rochdale after being with the company for thirty years.
Wood joined the company in 1982 as education officer after spending ten years working in one of Rochdale's multi-racial primary schools and later became artistic producer. Under her leadership, the company has created a wide range of theatre from productions for the very young through to theatre for prisoners, their families and young people at risk.
M6 dates its own birth to 1977, but it can actually trace its roots back to the Octagon's theatre-in-education company in 1967, just two years after the first ever TIE programme was created by the Belgrade Theatre in Coventry. While its output may have departed sharply from the early ideals of TIE pioneers, it can still claim to be the oldest surviving theatre company in this field.
Wood said of her departure, "M6 has been a huge part of my life over the past thirty years. It’s been a wonderful journey and I’m extremely proud of what we’ve achieved over those three decades.
"There have been some tough mountains to climb at times but the rewards have been a thousand fold. Working with inspirational artists to create theatre which brings wonder, imagination and connections into young people’s lives and being able to witness that impact has always felt like the most amazing job in the world."
Chair of trustees for M6 Katharine Rhodes said, "Dot has been at the heart of M6 Theatre over many years: our creative force and guiding light. Her talent, vision and unswerving commitment to theatre for children and young people, is well recognised—not only by those of us who have had the pleasure of working with her, but by the whole community of young people’s theatre."
Rhodes added, "a true testament to Dot’s extraordinary achievements, is that she leaves a great team of people and a strong, resilient, forward- looking theatre company, with quality and integrity at its very roots."
Details of the application process for the new role of "artistic leader" will be announced later this month.