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Nabokov's Perrin & Grieve Helm Paines Plough

New writing powerhouse Paines Plough has announced that George Perrin and James Grieve will become joint artistic directors of the company, following Roxana Silbert's departure at the end of this year (See News, 22 Jul 2009). They will take up their post in February 2010.

Perrin and Grieve are currently joint artistic directors of new writing company nabokov, which they established in 2001. Their work with nabokov includes the world premieres of Mike Bartlett’s Artefacts and Jack Thorne's recent 2nd May 1997 at the Bush, as well as Edmund White's Terre Haute at Trafalgar Studios (which, like Artefacts, subsequently transferred to New York).

London-based touring company Paines Plough was founded in 1974 by writer David Pownall and director John Adam. The company has won numerous awards over the years, and premiered the work of writers including Sarah Kane, Mark Ravenhill, Dennis Kelly, David Grieg, Enda Walsh and Bola Agbaje.

Alongside Silbert, who has been at the helm for four years and leaves to continue as associate director at the RSC and to take on a Clore Fellowship, other previous artistic directors include Anna Furse and Vicky Featherstone.

George Perrin and James Grieve said of their appointment: “We are thrilled to be have been appointed joint artistic directors of Paines Plough. We are looking forward to the opportunity to build on the company's illustrious 35 year history and the incredible achievements of Roxana Silbert by continuing to present the highest quality work to the largest number of people across the country and internationally, cementing Paines Plough's reputation as the UK's national theatre of new plays."

They announced that Joe Murphy will succeed them as artistic director of nabokov, and that they will remain involved in the company at board level.

- by Theo Bosanquet

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