Kip Williams Appointed Permanent Artistic Director Of Sydney Theatre Company

It’s been a rollercoaster ride, but for many familiar with the superb work of 30-year-old director Kip Williams, the announcement of his permanent appointment as the Sydney Theatre Company’s new artistic director is a happy conclusion to a turbulent few months for the company.

Williams, who was mentored by STC’s former artistic director Andrew Upton, was among the speculative successors rumoured to be in the running to take over the company when Upton stood down at the end of 2015. However, the company shocked many by appointing Jonathan Church to STC’s top job. The British director, best known for his musical theatre productions – including the staging of Singin In The Rain currently touring Australia – boasted some impressive credentials, including a transformative tenure leading the Chichester Festival in the UK, boosting both its revenue and status. However, after just a few months leading STC, Church unceremoniously resigned in August, saying in a statement that the position “had not proved viable… while balancing my other interests as we had hoped.”

Williams — a Helpmann-Award winning talent who has been a resident director with STC since 2013 — was named the interim Artistic Director after Church's sudden departure, but in a statement issued by STC’s chairman Ian Narev earlier today, the company's Board was unanimous in its decision to appoint Williams to the position permanently. “Kip was appointed after an extensive process that included a review of potential international and Australian candidates, consultation with members of the artistic community and interviews with an impressive shortlist of theatre-makers. Through our deliberations, we always returned to the notion of STC being an artist-led company… We believe Kip consistently makes some of the most exciting theatre in Australia and many others in the industry share that view.”

Williams' first official season for the company will be in 2018, announced late 2017.