Northampton’s Royal and Derngate is “imminently” looking to recruit a new artistic director to replace Laurie Sansom.
Sansom will take up the role as artistic director of the National Theatre of Scotland next spring, replacing Vicky Featherstone who is joining the Royal Court Theatre in London.
He has been at Royal and Derngate since 2006 when the theatre reopened after a major redevelopment.
In 2010 he won a TMA award for best director for Eugene O’Neill’s Beyond the Horizon which transferred to the National Theatre.
Paul Southworth, chairman of Royal and Derngate’s board, said, “We have mixed emotions—sad to be saying goodbye to our excellent artistic director but immensely proud that his work has been recognised, enabling his move to lead the National Theatre of Scotland.”
Barbara Matthews, Arts Council England’s director, theatre, added, “Laurie has created much admired, vibrant and imaginative work for audiences in Northampton and invited an exciting range of artists to Royal and Derngate.”
Sansom said, “My six years at Royal and Derngate have been incredibly fulfilling—the theatre has given me some fantastic opportunities.
“Audiences in Northampton have been really supportive and helped the theatre go from strength to strength, with our work achieving national acclaim and reaching ever wider audiences around the country.
“Although it will be difficult to say goodbye to everyone at Royal and Derngate, it will be a thrilling challenge to lead the National Theatre of Scotland through the next stage of its development as it continues to champion new and innovative work in Scotland and beyond.”
Sansom’s final production at Royal and Derngate will open in February.