Second hurried departure at the Norwich Maddermarket Theatre

After less than ten months in the role, the artistic director of the Maddermarket Theatre, Norwich, Genevieve Raghu, has left the theatre’s employ. Raghu, 24, was due to have directed the Maddermarket’s Christmas show, The Railway Children, but that project has now been passed to another director.

Raghu joined the theatre in February with an impressive array of theatre experience, having worked in London and Warwickshire. She made her directorial debut at the Maddermarket with the Noel Coward comedy Present Laughter.

Les Hoare, the theatre’s general manager, confirmed that Raghu had left but was unable to comment further on her departure. He told What’s On Stage: “I am fortunate in having a superb team at the Maddermarket, along with a supportive and progressive Board. We are all focussed on the future of the Maddermarket with our priority to deliver the highest quality productions possible to our audiences.

“This simple aim, recently re-enforced by the Board of Trustees, has kept the Maddermarket at the forefront of producing theatre in Norwich for over 91 years. “We are shortly to announce our 2013 season of productions which will be directed by a mix of professional and guest directors, whose standards are well proven.”

He added: “Two of our former directors, Peter Sowerbutts and Stephen Picton, are returning to direct shows at the Maddermarket. Peter has kindly stepped in to direct our Christmas production of The Railway Children. He will be supported by designer John Stokes.

Raghu is the second artistic director in two years. In July 2011, Picton – who was in a similar role at the Maddermarket before her – also left the organisation after less than a year in post. He will be returning to direct Chekov’s The Seagull in November 2013.

Genevieve Raghu was unavailable for comment.