Theatr Clwyd’s artistic director to join Royal Shakespeare Company

Theatr Clwyd have revealed that artistic director Tamara Harvey is to join the Royal Shakespeare Company as their new co-artistic director.

Tamara's arrival at Theatr Clwyd in 2015, joined by executive director Liam Evans-Ford in 2016, marked the beginning of a remarkable turnaround for Wales' biggest producing theatre. The organisation's focus on developing Welsh voices and artists with more than 50 world premieres, many touring Wales and the UK, has brought a new vibrancy to the venue.

Alongside stage success, significant changes to Theatr Clwyd's approach to community work, as well as the essential redevelopment of its building, which will ensure the organisation flourishes for years to come, have been industry leading.

This dynamic and front-footed approach was a key reason the organisation was named as The Stage's Regional Theatre Of The Year in 2021.

Theatr Clwyd's outgoing artistic director Tamara Harvey. Photo: The Other Richard

Tamara said: "The word 'life-changing' is overused but Theatr Clwyd has, genuinely, changed my life.

"This is where I learned to be an artistic director, where I became a mother, where I've directed some of the work of which I'm most proud, and where I've had one of the most important collaborative relationships of my career with the brilliant Liam Evans-Ford.

"It will be heart wrenching to leave the team at Theatr Clwyd - world class theatre makers as well as properly lovely humans - but I do so knowing that our theatre on a hill will continue to be a vital home for our communities and a cultural beacon for Wales.

Read more: Autumn season of variety at Theatr Clwyd

"And I leave safe in the knowledge that nowhere could have given me a better foundation for stepping into one of the biggest roles in world theatre.

"To be co-artistic director of the RSC alongside the amazing Daniel Evans is a once in a lifetime opportunity and the only thing that could have lured me away from North Wales."

Major production successes have included the Olivier Award-winning Home, I'm Darling, UK Theatre Award-winning The Assassination of Katie Hopkins, Mold Riots in the streets of Mold with a company of more than 250 people, and the immersive hit show The Great Gatsby.

Home, I'm Darling, directed by Tamara, opened at Theatr Clwyd in co-production with London's National Theatre before transferring to the West End and touring the UK.

Theatr Clwyd executive director Liam Evans-Ford and artistic director Tamara Harvey.

Liam Evans-Ford, Theatr Clwyd's joint-CEO added: "I've been fortunate enough to lead a major arts organisation with Tamara for over six years. During this time, we have made huge strides in placing our communities at the heart of what we do, and championing Welsh artists at all scales of production.

"I'll miss Tamara greatly, as will many others, but she leaves behind an organisation that is in a strong position for the future. We cannot wait to see what she achieves in her new role."

The national and international search for Tamara's successor will begin later this year.

Her new role will be co-artistic director of the Royal Shakespeare Company alongside Wales' Daniel Evans, who joins from Chichester Festival Theatre. Theatr Clwyd's previous artistic director, the late Terry Hands, is a former RSC artistic director.

Helen Watson, the chair of Theatr Clwyd's board said: "It is a huge credit to the leadership of Tamara and Liam that the work and approach achieved at Theatr Clwyd is now sought after by the biggest organisation in world theatre.

"Tamara will undoubtedly be missed, but she leaves a shining jewel in the crown of Welsh theatre that will undoubtedly attract the best talent in Wales, the UK and the world."

• Tamara's next directorial project is new musical The Famous Five (Sep 23-Oct 15) in a co-production with Chichester Festival Theatre, followed by this year's rock & roll pantomime Robin Hood (Nov 19-Jan 14).