Dominic Cooke to leave Royal Court in 2013.

Dominic Cooke, is to step down as Artistic Director of the Royal Court Theatre in 2013. Executive Director Kate Horton is to take up a new position at the National Theatre in April 2012

Dominic Cooke said: "In January 2013 it will be seven years since I was appointed Artistic Director of the Royal Court. This follows eight years as full time Associate Director at the Court and the RSC. After nearly 15 years on the management of two extraordinary companies, and with my trusted colleague Kate Horton moving on to an exciting new role at the National, it feels like the right point to begin the process of handing over to a new Artistic Director. In the spring of 2013, I will move on from the Court to focus on freelance work.

"My focus now will be on the next 15 months of programming for the Court. Having just announced nine new plays for the first six months of 2012 I'll be planning the next two seasons, which we will announce in due course, and will include some exciting surprises. By the time I leave Sloane Square, I will have produced around 100 new plays. There are many people who have given their talent, passion and hard work to make that work happen and I am hugely grateful to all of them."

Since Dominic joined, the Royal Court has received over 189 award nominations and 56 wins including the 2010 Stage Award for Theatre of the Year plus three Olivier Awards in 2011.