Sydney Theatre Company (STC) has announced that Kip Williams has been appointed the new Artistic Director of Company, commencing in the role immediately, and will begin programming their 2018 Season.
Kip first worked with STC in 2011 when Andrew Upton invited him to be Assistant Director on his production of The White Guard. In 2012, he became Directing Associate. He was then invited, along with Sarah Giles and Sarah Goodes, by Upton to become a Resident Director at STC, a post he has held since January 2013 until taking up the role of Interim Artistic Director in August 2016.
In a stament, Ian Narev, STC Chairman said “I am thrilled to announce Kip Williams’ appointment as Artistic Director of Sydney Theatre Company. Kip was appointed after an extensive process that included a review of potential international and Australian candidates, consultation with members of the artistic community and interviews with an impressive short list of theatre makers.”
“Through our deliberations, we always returned to the notion of STC being an artist-led company with a distinctive heritage and voice. We believe Kip consistently makes some of the most exciting theatre in Australia, and many others in the industry share that view.”
“Kip is a visionary artist who spoke to us about his love for the Company, and his practical vision for how it can use its strong foundations to reach even higher artistic standards for audiences, artists, staff and the community. The esteem in which he is held by colleagues, from the country’s leading artists to those just starting out, is clear. All of us on the board were unanimous that Kip was the standout choice as Artistic Director” added Mr Narev.
On his appointment into the role, Kip said “It is both an honour and a privilege to have the opportunity to work alongside the Australian theatrical community to further STC’s tradition of sharing stories both big and small, with Sydney and beyond. I look forward to working closely with Executive Director Patrick McIntyre and all my colleagues on The Wharf as we take our company forward into its next chapter.”
“STC has been the watering hole our great artists have constantly returned to, whilst also being the birth place of the careers of some of our most important story tellers. I am incredibly excited to have the opportunity to collaborate with Australia’s great theatre makers, whilst developing the next generation of artists. I’m passionate about deepening the conversation with our audience, and inviting more people to join in. It’s an incredibly exciting time to be in the job,” added Kip.
Many audience members will have met Kip over recent years at our Insight Events or in our foyers. Kip’s most recent work for STC was A Midsummer Night’s Dream, his third Shakespeare for STC following productions of Romeo and Juliet and Macbeth, featuring Hugo Weaving. Earlier this year, he directed All My Sons by Arthur Miller and The Golden Age by Louis Nowra.
His other work for STC has included Love and Information by Caryl Churchill (nominated for the Helpmann Award for Best Direction of a Play), Suddenly Last Summer by Tennessee Williams (winner of the Helpmann Award for Best Direction of a Play) and Children of the Sun by Maxim Gorky, adapted by Andrew Upton.
“This is a very exciting appointment for Sydney Theatre Company,” said Patrick McIntyre, STC Executive Director. “Kip is a rigorous, thoughtful and original theatre maker, but never at the expense of keeping his audiences engaged and stimulated.”
“He is a considerate collaborator, is genuinely engaged with a wide range of issues affecting the future of the art form and of the industry, and has great curiosity and energy. I think he will be a great leader of the country’s biggest theatre company.”
For more information, visit: www.sydneytheatre.com.au for details.
Image: Kip Williams – courtesy of Sydney Theatre Company