New Artistic Director for Stephen Joseph Theatre
Alan Ayckboun has been the artistic director of the Stephen Joseph Theatre since 1972. His successor has been named as Chris Monks who will start his new job on 1st April.
Like Ayckborn, Monks is both a writer and director whose work has been seen at The Orange Tree Theatre, the Royal Exchange Theatre in Manchester, the Bolton Octagon and the New Vic.
Alan Ayckbourn announced his stepping down in June 2007 after he had been hospitalised in 2006 following a stroke. He will continue to be heavily involved with the venue, which has seen the premiere of most of his plays.
Monks was born in Sheffield and studied woodwinds and jazz composition at the Leeds College of Music. He joined the Royal Exchange Theatre Company upon graduating and composed scores for over fifty productions.
He wrote the songs for ‘Trafford Tanzi’ which was a big hit show in the eighties that eventually went to New York.
1990 saw Monks first production as a director, which was ‘Music Hall’ at the Bolton Octagon. In 2006, he returned there to direct Ayckbourn’s ‘Absurd Person Singular’.
Alan Ayckbourn is a hard act to follow, but hopefully Monks will continue to ensure that the Stephen Joseph Theatre continues to sell lots of theatre tickets.