Director Matthew Warchus has been named as the successor to Kevin Spacey as artistic director of London's Old Vic Theatre.
Warchus is an artistic associate of the Old Vic, where he has directed his predecessor with Jeff Goldblum in David Mamet's Speed-the-Plow in 2008, but his diverse work as director also includes the hugely successful musical Matilda for the RSC and the upcoming feature film Pride, as well as more than 70 production in London and on Broadway.
Warchus said he is, "excited and honoured to be following Kevin’s galvanising tenure at this wonderful building. He has re-established The Old Vic as a globally important theatre and I look forward to continuing to develop it as a hub of invigorating creativity."
Spacey added, "I couldn't be happier that my friend Matthew Warchus has agreed to take the reins at The Old Vic next year.
"I have long admired his work and had a wonderful experience when we worked together on Speed-the-Plow. Matthew is a thoughtful, intuitive and highly creative director and he has rightly been applauded for his work, in particular the quality and diversity of his portfolio.
"I know he loves our theatre and I am delighted for our staff, our audiences and for our acting and production communities that he will be its next guardian."
Old Vic chairman Nick Clarry said that as well as developing the artistic programme under the new director, future plans include, "to establish an endowment fund, and then to redevelop our historic building after the bicentenary in 2018."
Warchus will take over from Spacey, now in his tenth year at the Old Vic, in autumn 2015.