Can Doran Fill Boyd’s Shoes at RSC??? David Tennant Helps Decide…

Today (9 January 2012) is the deadline for applications to succeed Michael Boyd as artistic director of the Royal Shakespeare Company when he steps down at the end of this year after nearly a decade in charge. Speaking at a press briefing today to announce the company’s 2012/13 winter season, Boyd said that “the runners and riders are very exciting”. When Whatsonstage.com asked Boyd’s long-serving chief associate director Gregory Doran whether he’s thrown his name into the hat, he replied that Boyd was leaving “very big shoes to fill, that’s all I’ll say”.

Perhaps in his favour, one of those sitting on the panel to choose Boyd’s successor will be actor David Tennant, who Doran directed to record-breaking and Whatsonstage.com Award-winning in Hamlet in 2008. Others on the interview panel include RSC actor Noma Dumezweni, former NT artistic director Richard Eyre and former RSC, NT and Royal Opera House executive Genista McIntosh – a “seriously wise group of people”, according to Boyd, who will be seeing candidates at the beginning of February with a view to announcing a new artistic director in March.