Josie Rourke quits the Donmar

Thanks.

So not too different from Josie Rourke's record of two West End transfers (Weir and Reg) + the Shakespeares to Kings Cross, then Shakespeares, Liasions Dangereuses, The Machine (Donmar production for Manchester International Festival) to the USA. (Plus Privacy, although not sure if that was a transfer or a new production?)

Plus of course a lot of work making the theatre more accessible with the £10 Front Row and Young and Free schemes, cinema screenings, and The Vote on TV.

I think she's done a great job.

And I guess this is more Pakenham's role - getting them out of the ATG group is a major behind-the-scenes change.

Wasn't Guys and Dolls a Donmar to West End transfer? And then there was the Donmar West End season.

But gosh, how did I forget My Night With Reg? I loved that production! 

I guess it's just that the last couple of years at the Donmar have been comparatively underwhelming - they certainly haven't had a must-see sell-out for a while.

Ah, thanks. I remember seeing it at the Picadilly but thought there was a Donmar connection - must have been the creative team.

Indeed. How could you?

He’d be better at the Almeida after Rupert Goold.

Honestly, I don't know what happened. I may have to get myself to the doctor for a check-up!

I have nothing to back it up but I can just feel it in my waters that they will want to go with someone of the lady persuasion again which seems right in these times we live in at present.

Perhaps Vicky Featherstone knows someone hanging around at the Royal Court that she can recommend?

Yes, interesting news about Justin Audibert. Hope he continues to direct other stuff too as I've really enjoyed his stuff at the RSC and The Cardinal at Southwark.

Disappointed when I read this, i'd have initially agreed that I hadn't enjoyed as much under her tenure as Grandage's but when I actually look through what I've seen I've had plenty of really enjoyable times there and like her she goes about her work and what she says, so good luck to them both. When it comes to who is next i'm pretty ignorant of everyone discussed so far so it'll be like when she took over, or Rufus Norris or Emma Rice will have to wait and see. Interesting times.

Interesting how little she's actually directed there recently - nothing since St Joan at this time last year and, given what's already been announced, nothing until June at the earliest - although she did have a co-author credit for the Kids Company musical. And in 2016 most of her directing was in New York on transfers. With this and the time spent making the Mary Queen of Scots film, one wonders whether she's had her eye on the door for quite some time.

Someone mentioned Rob Icke who is about the last person one would think would apply for this job -- for one thing, he's never directed a single thing there --he'd have been better off at the Young Vic (which he circled briefly), but that ship has, alas, sailed. I wonder if Jamie Lloyd (who was much in the frame last time) will re-enter the fray. A more likely bet is someone like Rob Hastie, though he may feel he hasn't been at Sheffield long enough. But he would be following the theatre trajectory of Grandage and also has a great track record at the Donmar - and more to come this season.