Playwright Kwame Kwei-Armah to step down as Young Vic artistic director
The year-old star of stage and screen became the first African-Caribbean director to lead a major British theatre when he took over from playwright David Lan in February
During his tenure, he has produced 40 shows with the central London theatre and has been an advocate for increasing diversity within the industry and for protecting the arts during the pandemic.
Ahead of his departure in the autumn, he called for “government intervention” to protect the future of British theatre and the arts and announced his final season in the role.
Following the news, Kwei-Armah said: “It’s been the honour of a lifetime to lead the Young Vic, and I have been served magnificently by the team at the Arts Council, the board and all of my colleagues.
“I step down knowing that our team and artists are representative of London and that we have continued the theatre’s incredible contribution to this industry and our community.”
Reflecting on his time in the role, he said his focus has been on “innovation, access and community” and that he is “proud” of what they have achieved.
However, he added that it is a “bittersweet
Kwame Kwei-Armah joined the Young Vic as Artistic Director in February , becoming the first African Caribbean director to lead a major British theatre. During his tenure he has produced 40 productions across the theatre’s spaces, including 30 in the Main House where more than half of all writers and directors were women. Black and Global Majority artists have directed over half and written 48% of all Main House shows. Off stage, the Young Vic has gone from 11% to 44% Black and Global Majority staff across the organisation and 40% in senior management.
Under Kwame’s leadership three critically acclaimed productions have transferred to the West End, along with two Broadway transfers, plus a feature film adaptation is shortly due for release. He launched Best Seat in Your House, an innovative new streaming platform, in , which took Young Vic shows to audiences across 86 countries. The Creators Program, formerly the Directors Program, launched in , celebrating multi and anti-disciplinary artists and re-imagining future practice. Taking Part reached new corners across London and internationally, from New York to Australia, with unique community shows and partnerships, along with
Young Vic Artistic Director Kwame Kwei-Armah has revealed he will step down from leading the London company next fall. The position, which he assumed in , made Kwei-Armah the first African Caribbean director to lead a major British theatre. Over his tenure, Kwei-Armah has seen three West End transfers, two Broadway bows, and one feature film develop from Young Vic productions. He also helped launch the theatre's innovative streaming scheme, which allowed the theatre's productions to reach global audiences.
In a statement announcing his planned departure, Kwei-Armah sounds warning bells about an ongoing funding crisis befalling theatres worldwide, but particularly in the U.K. "The three pillars that have guided my tenure have been innovation, access, and community, and I’m proud of all that we have achieved," he says. "But it is a bittersweet moment. The painful reality is I am leaving a subsidized sector where 13 years of standstill funding is taking its toll. For decades the theatre industry has fueled the U.K.’s world-renowned creative industries, providing vital pathways for artists to flourish, going from subsidized theatre, into the West End, and into TV and film. But
Kwei-Armah to step down from Young Vic
KWAME KWEI-ARMAH will leave the Young Vic in the autumn after six years as Artistic Director,
He joined the Young Vic in February , becoming the first African Caribbean director to lead a major British theatre.
Kwei-Armah will programme this season and a further production for before stepping down in autumn
During his tenure he has produced 40 productions, including 30 in the main house, in which more than half of the writers and directors were women.
Black and Global Majority artists have directed over half and written 48% of all main house shows and the percentage of Black and Global Majority staff has risen from 11% to 44% &#; with 40% in senior management.
Kwei-Armah said: “It's been the honour of a lifetime to lead the Young Vic and I have been served magnificently by the team at the Arts Council, the Board and all of my colleagues.
“The three pillars that have guided my tenure have been innovation, access and community, and I’m proud of all that we have achieved. But it is a bittersweet moment. The painful reality is I am leaving a subsidised sector where 13 years of sta
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