Richard Jordan says that theatres must employ chief executives with a love for both commerce and theatre – something The National Theatre tried with Tessa Ross but didn’t quite pull off.
The resignation of Tessa Ross as chief executive of the National Theatre has seen many directors declare that producing theatres should be run by directors and not chief executives. While I don't like the title chief executive in the context of artistic leadership, neither do I think in today's theatre industry we should be compartmentalising positions and closing off possibilities. I want to see a theatre run by an artist, and not simply assuming that it has to always be a director.
Joseph Papp might arguably be the greatest and most visionary artistic director of all time. His tenure at New York's Public Theatre lasted 24 years – but he did not direct. His former colleague at the Public, Bernard Gersten, formed one of New York theatre’s greatest collaborations with Andre Bishop in their 22 years of artistic leadership of Lincoln Centre – yet neither has directed. Todd Haimes at the Roundabout Theatre is in his 25th year as Artistic Director while Michael Ritchie enters his 20th year of artistic leadership at Los Angeles Centre Group Theatres. Again, neither directs. If you asked any of these individuals, I believe they would consider themselves artists first and foremost. Primarily they are great artistic producers, creative leaders and shrewd businessmen and that has proved a winning combination of skills for both them and their theatres... Keep reading on The Stage
The resignation of Tessa Ross as chief executive of the National Theatre has seen many directors declare that producing theatres should be run by directors and not chief executives. While I don't like the title chief executive in the context of artistic leadership, neither do I think in today's theatre industry we should be compartmentalising positions and closing off possibilities. I want to see a theatre run by an artist, and not simply assuming that it has to always be a director.
Joseph Papp might arguably be the greatest and most visionary artistic director of all time. His tenure at New York's Public Theatre lasted 24 years – but he did not direct. His former colleague at the Public, Bernard Gersten, formed one of New York theatre’s greatest collaborations with Andre Bishop in their 22 years of artistic leadership of Lincoln Centre – yet neither has directed. Todd Haimes at the Roundabout Theatre is in his 25th year as Artistic Director while Michael Ritchie enters his 20th year of artistic leadership at Los Angeles Centre Group Theatres. Again, neither directs. If you asked any of these individuals, I believe they would consider themselves artists first and foremost. Primarily they are great artistic producers, creative leaders and shrewd businessmen and that has proved a winning combination of skills for both them and their theatres... Keep reading on The Stage