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Post by Jan on Dec 21, 2023 8:06:29 GMT
Rupert Goold has been AD of the Almeida for 10 years. Often that seems to be around the point at which ADs leave. Recently he's been doing more work outside the Almeida, at the Old Vic and NT for example, so I wonder if he's planning on going freelance. It would be a pity as he's by far the best AD in London by a wide margin, both in terms of successful programming across new plays, revivals and musicals and the way he has consistently supported writers (eg. Mike Bartlett, James Graham) and directors (Robert Icke, Rebecca Frecknall). He would have been by far the best choice to be boss of the NT just as he would have been at the RSC when he apparently applied then withdrew before they appointed Greg Doran. Maybe next time.
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Post by Someone in a tree on Dec 21, 2023 9:25:25 GMT
If he resigned, would 10 ish years of freelance work be a nice break before becoming the big cheese at NT or RSC?
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Post by Jan on Dec 21, 2023 9:36:36 GMT
If he resigned, would 10 ish years of freelance work be a nice break before becoming the big cheese at NT or RSC? Once top directors like him go freelance they don't tend to return to the subsidised sector as ADs, I can't think of any examples of that in fact, apart from Trevor Nunn at NT I suppose. |
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Post by toomasj on Dec 21, 2023 11:32:15 GMT
Just from books and articles I‘ve read, managing a building can be extremely draining and difficult, handling everything from programming, recruitment of front of house staff through to negotiating with ice cream suppliers. Then actually directing and possibly performing on top.
Goold is a wonderful director and would have his choice of many of the top theatres in the world if he wanted to do similar work elsewhere and freelance on the side (where time permits!)
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Post by n1david on Dec 21, 2023 12:08:09 GMT
I'm sure I read an interview with around the time when Rufus announced his departure from the NT, where Rupert said he had no plans to move on. I know that at one stage he had aspirations to open a second Almeida venue, but I suspect the pandemic has put paid to that. Can't find the interview now though, annoyingly.
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Post by Jan on Dec 21, 2023 12:22:53 GMT
I'm sure I read an interview with around the time when Rufus announced his departure from the NT, where Rupert said he had no plans to move on. I know that at one stage he had aspirations to open a second Almeida venue, but I suspect the pandemic has put paid to that. Can't find the interview now though, annoyingly. There is also a fairly recent interview with him where he indicated he had probably missed his chance at NT because the next director was sure to be a woman (as it turned out to be). He is 51 so when the NT next becomes available he might not want to take it on. Before he went to the Almeida he was the best Shakespeare director in UK (Othello, Tempest, Macbeth, King Lear, Merchant of Venice, Romeo & Juliet all good or excellent) but it is disappointing the only new Shakespeare he's directed while at the Almeida was quite a poor Richard III with Ralph Fiennes - maybe the new RSC ADs will be less insecure than the previous one was in occasionally bringing in top guest directors. |
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Post by Jon on Dec 21, 2023 16:56:16 GMT
I would imagine when Goold does step down, he'll set up his own production company rather than be an AD.
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