Bury St Edmunds artistic director to move on
The Theatre Royal Bury St Edmunds announced today that, after 15 years in the post, Colin Blumenau has expressed his intention to relinquish his formal role of artistic director at the end of July. He will however continue to be associated with the historic theatre – in September as director of Tim Luscombe’s new adaptation of Jane Austen’s Mansfield Park and then as writer of the pantomime Rapunzel and the Rascal Prince.
Chief executive Simon Daykin comments: “Taking any organisation through the highs and lows of the last 15 years is no mean feat,especially in these straightened times of economic challenge, Recent surveys show that arts audiences are falling nationally by eight per cent;, it is testimony to his drive and skill that Theatre Royal audiences buck the trend and continue to grow:
Blumenau adds: “I’ve had a fantastic 15 years here. There have been so many highs but now it is time to move on. However, every creative enterprise needs constant rejuvenation, and it is now time to hand over the creative baton to someone else whilst I look forward to developing my own writing and directing. For me, working at the Theatre Royal has been a truly life-defining experience.
“I will leave with some brilliant memories as well as vastly expanded knowledge and experience. I also owe an enormous debt of gratitude to all who have worked with me – staff, board, stakeholders and audiences – to make the Theatre Royal an exceptional and uniquely valuable part of the town, the region, and the nation’s theatrical landscape.”
