David Thacker on Octagon Theatre Bolton

After six years at Bolton Octagon, artistic director David Thacker is preparing to stand down.
When he leaves the role in September - handing over to the phenomenally talented Elizabeth Newman - he’ll move to Bolton University to become its first professor of theatre, heading up their innovative new undergraduate degree in theatre (one done in partnership with the Octagon and designed to give students a chance to organically find their place in the theatre world).
The Olivier award winner leaves with a proud six seasons under his belt, and as amazed by the potential of the Octagon as he was when he arrived. “If you go back to the origins of the theatre, the hero is Robin Pemberton-Billing (the Octagon’s first artistic director) who created the theatre,” he says.
“He brought to Bolton this rather incredible idea, which was that they should have their own professional theatre. Not only did he talk the council into that, but he also persuaded them to build a versatile theatre, not a proscenium arch theatre... Keep reading on Manchester Evening News