The Old Vic theatre in London has announced that its current Artistic Director, Matthew Warchus, is stepping down from the venue in 2026.
Warchus will have spent 11 years leading The Old Vic, and will depart in September 2026.
Recruitment for a new Artistic Director of the venue will begin this summer.
Matthew Warchus said in a statement that being The Old Vic’s artistic director has been “one of my life’s greatest privileges and pleasures”. See the full statement, below.
The Old Vic is one of the oldest and largest producing theatres in London, with over 270,000 people seeing a play or musical at the venue each year.
The 2022/2023 Season saw capacity at 91%, with hit shows including Groundhog Day The Musical, directed by Warchus, Just for One Day: The Live Aid Musical, and its annual festive show, A Christmas Carol.
To date since his appointment in 2014, Matthew Warchus‘ 10 Seasons of work at The Old Vic have delivered 25 world premieres, West End and Broadway transfers, national and international tours, and achieved hundreds of award nominations including Olivier and Tony Award wins.
Matthew Warchus is also the director of hit West End shows including Matilda The Musical at the Cambridge Theatre in London.
Currently playing at The Old Vic is Machinal, until 1 June, followed by new comedy The Constituent starring James Corden and Anna Maxwell Martin from 13 June.
In September, Matthew Warchus is directing Juno and the Paycock in the West End, at the Gielgud Theatre in London, starring Mark Rylance and J Smith Cameron.
Read more about Matthew Warchus
Book shows now playing and coming soon to The Old Vic
What They Said
Matthew Warchus said: “Being the Artistic Director of The Old Vic has been one of my life’s greatest privileges and pleasures. It is without question my favourite theatre in the world.
“As a charity without any regular public subsidy, the survival of The Old Vic is dependent on regularly filling its 1,000 seats by engaging as wide an audience as possible with work of the highest quality. An average year of performances at The Old Vic will necessarily play to a total capacity greatly exceeding that of most of the exciting, but much smaller, producing venues in the capital – more than double the Young Vic, about three times the Almeida, Hampstead and Royal Court, and more than four times that of the Donmar. And for the same reasons, The Old Vic’s accessible ticket scheme likely provides more affordable tickets than any other London theatre except for the National.
“This level of reach represents a great opportunity, challenge and responsibility. My aim has been to deliver ‘entertainment with a purpose’… a varied programme of work with always something important to say but which doesn’t feel like medicine… and I’m proud of the many fun, uplifting and inspiring productions we have presented throughout my tenure. The greatest joy and privilege, however, is in the huge number of first-time theatregoers we continue to welcome through our doors. This quintessential playhouse with an exhilarating spirit of adventure, The Old Vic really is the perfect place to experience theatre for the first time.
“The Old Vic board, senior management team and entire staff is comprised of brilliant colleagues, who have provided exemplary support and expertise and, the truth is, I would happily stay for many more years but it’s time to pass on this very prestigious baton. Meanwhile, I’m delighted to be continuing for two more Seasons and look forward to announcing those upcoming shows in due course.’
Nick Clarry, Chair of The Old Vic, said: “It has been a pleasure to watch Matthew at the helm of The Old Vic over the last decade. He has the most extraordinary ability to create and find work that reaches audiences of all generations and from all backgrounds. In his hands, The Old Vic has become a thriving producing house with a spirit of adventure. An historic building transformed into an unintimidating space with upgraded facilities and an extensive education and community programme. This work will find a home in the adjacent building in 2025 when a new arts hub opens to the public, further enhancing The Old Vic’s reach, social impact and Matthew’s legacy.
“I am delighted that Matthew has agreed to stay until the end of his eleventh Season and excited about what will be achieved in the final two years of his tenure. We will soon be starting the recruitment process to find a new Artistic Director to build on Matthew’s extraordinary work.”
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