Germans Love Grandage for Schiller Thrillers???

He’s best known as one of the UK’s leading theatre directors, but perhaps his future lies in diplomacy. Donmar Warehouse artistic director Michael Grandage has been awarded the German-British Forum 2005 Award in recognition of his work “fostering German-British relations” through staging plays by German dramatist Friedrich Schiller. The director’s own production of Schiller’s Don Carlos, starring Derek Jacobi and Richard Coyle, transferred from the Sheffield Crucible to the West End’s Gielgud Theatre in January, while Mary Stuart (directed by Phyllida Lloyd for Grandage at the Donmar) transferred to the Apollo Theatre last month. This is the second award Grandage has won for Don Carlos, which also earned him the TMA Award for Best Director (See News, 24 Oct 2005). The resurgence in popularity of the Schiller plays coincides with the 200th anniversary of the playwright’s death. The German-British Forum was founded in 1996 with the aim of encouraging partnerships between the UK and Germany. Previous recipients of the award include Democracy playwright Michael Frayn.

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