Running a theatre has become a seriously unappealing job, according to many of those working at Britain’s performance venues. While larger institutions, such as the Barbican, RSC and National Theatre, can still attract and keep good artistic directors, regional theatres and arts centres are struggling. A job heading of one of these offers the same stress, accountability and long hours, but on a smaller budget and with a smaller salary.
Burnout and disillusionment are now widespread, according to insiders including dancer Kenneth Tharp, who ran The Place, near London’s Euston station, until 2016. Last week, Tharp pointed out on Twitter (now known as X), that there had been a “huge churn of artistic directors (some after relatively short tenures)”, citing 14 venues in the past two years.
