Noble’s Real Reason for RSC Departure Revealed???

When Adrian Noble announced his resignation as artistic director of the Royal Shakespeare Company in 2002 (stepping down a year later), it was greeted with shock by the majority of the theatre community (See News, 24 Apr 2002). The director had come under fire for some time about his controversial decisions to abandon a permanent London base and demolish Stratford’s Grade II-listed Royal Shakespeare Theatre. At the time, Noble spoke bitterly in the media about how abuse directed towards his family had influenced his decision to leave – others speculated that the success of his newly opened West End musical, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, had been a factor (See The Goss, 25 Apr 2002). Today, the Independent sheds new light on the incident. Documents released to the newspaper under the Freedom of Information Act reveal that the Arts Council had denied support for Noble’s Stratford redevelopment just one month before his departure was announced. Could that perceived failure have been the final straw? Back in April 2002, the RSC publicly committed to following through with the radical plans after Noble’s departure. In fact, his two big changes have both been reversed. Instead of building a new “21st-century theatrical village”, the RSC has put the earmarked £100 million towards renovating the Royal Shakespeare Theatre (See News, 22 Sep 2004). After Noble’s withdrawal from the Barbican Centre residency, his successor Michael Boyd has also vowed to find the company a new permanent base in London.

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