In Chichester, a cathedral city in West Sussex, South East of England, theatre lovers are buzzing with exciting news.
Daniel Evans has been appointed the artistic director at Chichester Festival Theatre after being in charge of Sheffield Theatres for seven years. These theatres, of course, make up the largest regional theatre complex outside the London region and show a variety of in-house and touring productions.
In June 2016, Evans will take over the post from Jonathan Church, who's bound for Australia in September 2016 to manage the Sydney Theatre Company.
Daniel Evans said he was "truly delighted" to be taking over the artistic leadership of the organisation, describing it as "the most incredible theatrical powerhouse".
Daniel’s span of experience as a director and actor makes him stunned fit for Chichester Festival Theatre. He is broadly admired for championing classical work and musicals alongside a commitment to new writing, and his passion for theatre is infectious.
Evans has produced six of Shakespeare’s greatest plays: "Hamlet," "Othello," "Macbeth," "The Winter’s Tale," "Twelfth Night" and "Romeo and Juliet."
He was a memorable Peter Pan in the National Theatre’s in 1997 production and won two best actor in a musical awards for Sondheim shows – "Merrily We Roll Along" - is musical with a book by George Furth and lyrics and music by Stephen Sondheim, and Sunday in the Park With George in 2006 - is a musical with music and was inspired by the painting "A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grandee Jatte" by George Seurat.
Evans’s work as the director includes "The Effect," "Anything Goes," "Oliver! My Fair Lady," and "The Full Monty."
Daniel Evans once told the Times when he was still 24-year-old, his ultimate ambition was to have "a Company of my own and do the classic in Welsh." And now he is 42, he's achieved the first twice over.
The role of artistic director of Sheffield Theatres will be advertised in January 2016.
