The iconic Theatre Royal Stratford East have announced Kerry Michael will step down as artistic director after 12 fabulous years and will be replaced by Nadia Fall. The beautiful building filled with a truly awesome creative buzz is one of our favourite Off-West End venues and we're excited to see what new zest and spirit Nadia can bring! We wonder what her first Musical will be...
The theatre, currently playing the classic musical TOMMY bassed on the 1969 concept album, has announced an exciting new change of hands. From 1 January 2018, Nadia Fall will take over full time as Artistic Director after Kerry Michaels finishes a final year chock-a-block with awesome shows (and loads of musicals!).
Fall said:
“I am absolutely thrilled to have been asked to take on the role of Artistic Director at Theatre Royal Stratford East. It is one of the most beautiful houses steeped in an incredible theatre history that goes back to the great Joan Littlewood.
I cannot wait to lead an exciting new chapter that captures the energy of a rapidly growing Stratford and serves its vibrant community as well as audiences across London, building on the dedicated work of Kerry Michael.”
She also added:
"An artistic director of a very important building is a woman, and is an Asian woman – that is something significant in the way we are being represented in theatre, and I won't ignore that."
Kerry Michael also weighed in on his time at the forefront of Off-West End theatre:
“I’m delighted that Nadia is taking over from me. She’s an exciting director whose work I have admired for some time now and, she will be a welcome new voice to the cohorts of leaders of buildings in this country. I know that she and Deborah Sawyerr our Executive Director will be a formidable duo.”
Theatre Royal Stratford East has long been a champion of musical theatre, producing multiple shows a year alongside its much respected programme of exciting new plays and revivals.
We'll be sad to see Kerry go, but one thing's for sure - we can't wait to see what Nadia will come up with over the next few years!
