Rufus Norris named National Theatre director

The National Theatre has appointed Rufus Norris to succeed Nicholas Hytner as director of the National Theatre with effect from April 2015. 

Norris called the appointment “a great honour” and said he was “thrilled at the prospect and challenge of leading this exceptional organisation”.

After training as an actor, Norris came to prominence as a theatre director, winning Olivier awards for his revival of Cabaret in 2006 and receiving five Tony nominations for his 2008 Broadway production of Les Liasons Dangereuses.

He made his directorial debut in 2009 with short film King Bastard. His debut feature film, Broken, opened Critics Week at the Cannes Film Festival in 2012 and won the Best Film Award at the British Independent Film Awards earlier this year.

Norris has been an associate director at the National Theatre since 2011.

John Makinson, chairman of the National Theatre, described Norris as “an exciting choice, someone who will build on the National Theatre’s present reputation as one of the most admired and innovative performing arts organisations in the world.”

Hytner, who announced in April that he would step down in March 2015, said of Norris: “His work as a director is always searching, deeply considered and adventurous and I have no doubt he will bring these qualities to the running of the National.”

For the National, Norris has directed The Amen Corner by James Baldwin (Olivier Theatre, 2013), Table by Tanya Ronder (The Shed, 2013), London Road by Alecky Blythe and Adam Cork (Cottesloe Theatre, 2011, Olivier Theatre, 2012), Death and the King’s Horseman by Wole Soyinka (Olivier Theatre, 2009) and Market Boy by David Eldridge (Olivier Theatre, 2006). 

Opera includes Dr Dee, which he co-created with Damon Albarn and played at the Manchester International Festival in 2011 and ENO in 2012.