In the year of the Royal Lyceum Theatre Company’s 50th Anniversary, Mark Thomson announced that he is to step down from his role as Artistic Director. Under his artistic leadership that started in 2003 the Company will have produced over 90 productions, 28 of which were world premieres.
Mark Thomson said, “I can’t think of a more positive way to finish my time here at the Lyceum than celebrating its 50th anniversary season with the likes of Brian Cox and Bill Paterson, great Lyceum people like Tony Cownie, John Dove and Liz Lochhead and with exciting collaborations with the Lyric Hammersmith, Told by an Idiot and National Theatre of Scotland. It is so difficult to leave a place like this with its incredible, dedicated and skillful teams, creative buzz and intelligent audiences. However, it’s absolutely time for a new adventure for me now just as I have always seen my time here as the constant refreshing of passion-led creative adventure for the artists and audiences in this extraordinary arena that celebrates theatre so vibrantly.”
Shonaig Macpherson CBE, Chairman of the Royal Lyceum Theatre Company, said, “Mark has been a passionate and inspiring Artistic Director. His commitment to ensuring the company produced bold seasons of work, encompassing the great classics of the theatre canon alongside new plays commissioned by The Lyceum, provided our audiences with a rich repertoire of high quality theatre. Our recently announced 50th Anniversary Season is the embodiment of this commitment and is set to be a fitting testament to his vision. We will of course be sad to see Mark leave, but in announcing his decision now our succession plans should allow for a smooth transition into the next chapter of artistic leadership.”
The formal process to appoint a new Artistic Director will begin later this month with the Board expected to announce a successor by Autumn 2015.