Joe Murphy, currently artistic director of the Sherman Theatre in Cardiff, has been appointed to a similar role at Birmingham Rep.
Murphy, 39, will replace Sean Foley, who has stepped down after five years at the Rep. During his tenure, he programmed the 50th anniversary season of the theatre in its current home on Centenary Square.
Murphy’s career as a stage director and creative artist includes work at the Old Vic, Shakespeare’s Globe, the Bush, Soho Theatre and Chichester Festival Theatre. He has toured work to New York, Moscow, St Petersburg, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Singapore and Bengaluru (Bangalore).
During his time at the Sherman Theatre, where he has been artistic director since 2019, audience numbers have reached their highest annual level. The theatre has staged 18 world premières and was nominated for The Stage’s theatre of the year award and the Sky Arts theatre award.
Previously, he was associate director at the Old Vic under Matthew Warchus where in 2017 he directed Jack Thorne’s new version of Georg Büchner’s Woyzeck featuring John Boyega. In 2016, he co-directed a production of Samuel Beckett’s No’s Knife, which was conceived by Lisa Dwan.
At the Rep, Murphy will lead an artistic team which includes newly appointed deputy artistic director Madeleine Kludje and Iqbal Khan, who has been reappointed as associate director.
Murphy said, “Birmingham Rep is a local theatre with a global reach. I’m absolutely thrilled to join at an exciting time for the theatre and for the city. The Rep is a powerhouse of drama, and I look forward to working with the talented team there and the community in and around Birmingham.”
Chair of the Rep Andy Street commented, “Joe comes to the Rep as one of the brightest young directors of his generation with an incredible track record of success. I’m confident that under his leadership the Rep will thrive artistically and connect with even more audiences and participants across the city and beyond.
“I’m especially pleased he’ll be joined by Madeleine and Iqbal in delivering our mission to be one of the best regional theatres in the UK and internationally, and I look forward to working with the team to realise this ambition.”
Murphy will move to Birmingham when he takes up his appointment at the Rep in spring 2025.