Newcastle’s Northern Stage has announced that Lorne Campbell will replace Erica Whyman as Artistic Director. He will take up the post in late spring.
Campbell, 35, who is currently Co-Artistic Director at theatre company Greyscale, is a freelance director and theatre-maker. He is also the course leader of the BA Directing programme at Drama Centre at London’s Central St Martins. He was born and grew up in Scotland but now lives in London, directing for theatres across the country.
“I am delighted to be joining the team at Northern Stage.” He said. “Back in 2001, I had my first professional job as an assistant director at what was then Newcastle Playhouse and I was impressed then at the North East’s commitment to culture and its rich offer to audiences - plans were already underway for many cultural organisations to be refurbished and The Sage Gateshead and Baltic were just around the corner. I’ve had the opportunity to work with the company in a number of ways over the intervening years and seen the way that the city has led the charge for cultural innovation and regeneration. To be given the opportunity to work as Artistic Director for this remarkable theatre is staggering. I cannot wait to begin to work with the incredible artists and audiences of this brilliant city.”
In 2010, Greyscale – the company he set up with Co-Artistic Director Selma Dimitrijevic - was awarded the Northern Stage Title Pending Award for new theatre for their show A Prayer. The innovative performance placed the audience as God in one man’s struggle to understand his place in the world. The show ran as part of Greyscale Theatre Brothel experiment in cities across the country, including performances at the Almeida and The Young Vic.
Northern Stage’s Chair of the Board, Fiona Standfield, said, “After considering impressive applications from a wide range of theatre makers and producers we are delighted to welcome Lorne to the company and the region. We are in a period of consultation with Newcastle City Council regarding our future funding agreements, including a proposal to cut the arts by 100%, but the prospect has not deterred Lorne. He relishes a challenge and is the right appointment to continue and craft an artistic programme for the company that can see us through this period and beyond. It is very much business as usual during this period at Northern Stage.”
Erica Whyman, who recently left the organisation to become the RSC’s new Deputy Artistic Director, said, “Lorne is an excellent and exciting choice for Artistic Director and I’m very pleased I’ll be leaving the company in such creative and determined hands.
“Lorne understands the delicate context of the current proposals to cut arts funding. This will be a great challenge for the city and its audiences, but I have no doubt that Lorne and his team will be thoughtful and inventive about how they develop a programme and an approach whilst ensuring the long term sustainability of Northern Stage. I have every faith that he will make sure the company continues to thrive and to lead the way in contemporary theatre whilst exploring new ways of working with the City Council and Arts Council England. I’m sure the great city of Newcastle will welcome him with open arms as they did me, and will soon know how fortunate they are to have secured such a thrilling appointment”
The companion post to the Artistic Director will be now considered by the Board. Until then, Susan Coffer will continue in the role of Acting Executive Director, the position she’s held since December.