Michael Attenborough to leave Almeida Theatre in 2013

Michael Attenborough, artistic director of the Almeida Theatre, an Off West End venue in Angel, north London, is to stand down in Spring 2013, after 11 years in the job, in order to concentrate on his directing.

Michael Attenborough said:"My 11 years as Artistic Director of the Almeida Theatre have been consistently thrilling and rewarding, but I have decided that, after running theatres for the past 32 years, I now want to concentrate solely on my directing. I would like to place on record my immense gratitude to the superb staff at the Almeida, all of whom have played an integral part in everything we have achieved. Whoever succeeds me will find themselves blessed with a wonderful and unique theatre space, a hugely loyal audience and a Board and Staff that are second to none."

Michael Attenborough's policy for the Almeida has been based on an eclectic programme that has included thirty two premieres, ten new versions of foreign plays, ten new plays for young people and four festivals.

Michael Attenborough's own productions over the last eleven years as Artistic Director of the Almeida Theatre are King Lear (which is running until 3 November 2012), Filumena, Reasons To Be Pretty, The Knot of the Heart, Through A Glass Darkly, Measure for Measure, When the Rain Stops Falling, In a Dark Dark House, The Homecoming, Awake and Sing!, Big White Fog, There Came A Gypsy Riding, Enemies, The Late Henry Moss, Brighton Rock, Five Gold Rings and The Mercy Seat.

Audience figures have been consistently high during his 11 years, with productions frequently selling out and generating critical acclaim. Whilst the Almeida enjoys the support of a loyal audience, his programming has typically attracted an average of 38% new attendees to each production.