An influential theatre industry figure has fuelled calls for the next National Theatre boss to be a woman.
In an interview with The Times, Vicky Featherstone, artistic director at the Royal Court Theatre, reportedly said it was “time there is another sort of view at the National”.
Her comments come after Rufus Norris, current Artistic Director at the National Theatre, announced he’d step down in 2025.
Vicky Featherstone reportedly said: “As far as I am aware we [women] have been around the same amount of time as men.”
She reportedly added: “Of course it is time there is another sort of view at the National.”
People are eagerly awaiting the announcement of the artistic director which could be made before Christmas.
Featherstone isn’t the only person whose comments have highlighted the National Theatre’s historic, predominantly male leadership.
In October, Clint Dyer, deputy artistic director at the National Theatre told The Standard Theatre Podcast: “I feel the best person should get the job. I’m always going to kind of sit on that side. Now if you ask me, ‘Do I think the best person for the job is a woman?’ I’d say ‘Yes’.”
Several people are thought to be in contention but Indhu Rubasingham, who this year announced she’d leave London’s Kiln Theatre after a decade, is considered a frontrunner.
Other contenders may include Josie Rourke, who ran the Donmar Warehouse and Bush Theatre, Lynette Linton, who led the Bush and Erica Whyman, formerly interim artistic director at the Royal Shakespeare Company.