Roxana Silbert, Artistic Director of Paines Plough, Steps Down
Following four years at the helm of Paines Plough, artistic director
Roxana Silbert has announced plans to leave her post in the autumn.
Recruitment of her replacement will begin after the summer.
Silbert is the eighth director of the new writing focussed theatre
company, which was founded in 1974. During her directorship Paines
Plough received numerous awards including a Fringe First in 2007 for
Ravenhill for Breakfast. Silbert leaves the company
to continue as associate director at the RSC and to take on a Clore
Fellowship.
Silbert is credited with innovating new production methods at the
company, such as the breakfast programme at the Traverse in 2007 that
led to the development of Mark Ravenhill’s acclaimed Shoot/Get
Treasure/Repeat across London last year.
As well as Shoot/Get Treasure/Repeat, Silbert
directed Strawberries in January, Long Time
Dead and Roaring Trade for Paines Plough.
She launched the award winning emerging writers programme Future
Perfect and the popular late night writers’ salon LATER.
Orphans, Silbert’s final production as director of
the company, runs at the Traverse in Edinburgh from 9 to 30 August, as
part of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. Following these dates the show
transfers to the Birmingham Repertory Theatre, then to Soho
Theatre.
David Edwards, Chair of the Paines Plough Board calls Silbert an
‘inspirational, passionate and committed director’, commenting that
‘she has taken the company into previously unexplored territory,
keeping Paines Plough a fresh and lively theatre company, at the
forefront of new writing. She has developed strong relationships with
both emerging and established playwrights through four years of
innovative work. She leaves Paines Plough in a very strong
position’.
