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Salisbury Playhouse Announces New Artistic Director

Salisbury Playhouse have announced the appointment of Gareth Machin as its new Artistic Director, succeeding Philip Wilson who leaves the post in July.

Gareth is currently Studio Associate for the National Theatre where he is responsible for developing and leading the programme of work for emerging directors. For the National Theatre, he has directed Caryl Churchill's Three More Sleepless Nights in the Lyttelton as well as working with Steppenwolf on their Tony Award-winning production of August: Osage County. He has also directed many workshops and readings of new plays by some of the UK’s leading writers such as Nick Dear, Jonathan Dove and Michael Morpurgo.

Prior to this, Gareth was Artistic Director of Southwark Playhouse for three years where productions included Chris Chibnall's Gaffer! and a major revival of Arthur Miller's The Archbishop's Ceiling>/i>. As Associate Director at Bristol Old Vic he established the Basement as a focal point for new writing in the city as well as directing a wide range of productions including Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? with Clare Higgins and the site-specific epic Up the Feeder Down the Mouth and Back Again on Bristol Docks (co-directed with Heather Williams). Gareth has also written a number of plays, musicals and operas.

Gareth Machin said: "I am thrilled to be joining Salisbury Playhouse at this fascinating and exciting time for regional theatre. I hope to build on the many successes of recent years, whilst at the same time exploring new ways of engaging with artists and audiences."

Helen Birchenough, Chairman of the Playhouse Board, said: 'This is a really exciting appointment for the Playhouse. Gareth will complement and build upon Philip's tremendous achievements over the past four years and will, I am sure, drive us forward to realise our ambitions and vision for the future'

Gareth will take up the post this Autumn.

- by Simon Cole - Theatregoer Reporter

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