Elsewhere, the Gate and Bush Theatres have also made new artistic director appointments, with Christopher Haydon replacing the duo of Natalie Abrahmi and Carrie Cracknell at the Gate and Madani Younis replacing Josie Rourke at the Bush. Kent has cited the recent round of funding cuts being applied to the theatre by the Arts Council as his "sole reason" for leaving, telling The Stage newspaper, "I hope the Arts Council, by my going, realises the gravity of the situation and will hopefully be a little bit kinder and more helpful to my successor than they have been in my final year."

Haydon, who is currently Associate Director of On Theatre and at the Bush Theatre, takes over the Gate in January 2012. He will be directing David Davalos's Wittenberg there in August, as part of current artistic directors' Abrahmi and Cracknell's final season at the helm. In a press statement he commented, "I am thrilled to be taking over at the Gate. It is a small space with limitless horizons located in one of the most exciting parts of London. I can't think of a better place to be making theatre today."

Younis, who is currently Artistic Director of Freedom Studios in Bradford, Yorkshire, will take over the Bush from Josie Rourke in January, following her appointment to take over the Donmar Warehouse. Younis'most recent work for the company was the site-specific work, The Mill – City of Dreams. He was previously director of the Red Ladder Theatre Company's Asian Theatre School. In a press statement, he commented, "I am delighted and honoured to be joining the Bush Theatre at this significant time in its history. During the past two years, through my work at Freedom Studios, I have had the privilege to build a strong working relationship with the Bush in supporting the development of new writers, and I look forward to continuing that work, and building the company's future in its new home."