Michael Longhurst announced as new Donmar Warehouse artistic director

The Donmar Warehouse has announced its next artistic director will be Michael Longhurst, taking over from Josie Rourke in March next year.

Longhurst returns to the Donmar after his production of Amy Herzog's Belleville last year. Other recent directing credits include Peter Shaffer's Amadeus at the National Theatre and West End and Caroline, or Change at Chichester Festival Theatre, which transferred earlier this year to Hampstead Theatre, and soon moves into the West End.

He has also directed productions of Gloria (Hampstead Theatre), Bad Jews (West End), They Drink It In The Congo (Almeida Theatre), Linda (Royal Court), A Number (Nuffield and Young Vic) and Nick Payne's Constellations at the Royal Court and West End – which won the 2012 Evening Standard Award for Best Play and received four Olivier Award nominations – and the subsequent Broadway transfer.

Longhurst – whose first programming will begin in mid-2019 – said: "I saw my first show at the Donmar aged fifteen and later even slept overnight on the street in the returns queue. I am so proud to undertake the challenge of filling this amazing space with exhilarating artists and important stories and am deeply honoured to be following Josie as the new artistic director."

Rourke added: "Over the past decade as an artistic director, I've had the joy of working with Mike both at the Bush, and at the Donmar. I know him to be not only one of the most gifted, original and impressive directors in the country but also a deeply kind and thoughtful leader who commands huge respect in the theatre community. I'm thrilled to know that an artist of such reputation and ability is going to take the helm at the Donmar."