John Caird seems to have tired of the protracted race to succeed Trevor Nunn and is to establish his own company.

News that Caird, a much-mentioned candidate to replace Nunn at the National Theatre, is to announce the establishment of his own theatre company this autumn makes it that more likely front-runner Nicholas Hytner will be the one who reaches the finish first.

Jude Kelly and Howard Davies are the two other contenders most frequently mentioned, though supporters of an actor running the South Bank institution — like its founder, Sir Laurence Olivier — are still clinging on to the hope that Simon Russell Beale might sweep past the rest in the final furlong.

As yet there are no firm details about Caird's proposed new company, but these are expected in the next month or so. Caird's current connection with the National is that he is the director of the well-reviewed Charlotte Jones play, Humble Boy, starring Russell Beale and Dame Diana Rigg. Dame Diana's displeasure with the state of her dressing room has been made public recently, but reviews of her performance have been stellar. For his part, director Caird will be busy on Broadway this season, co directing Dance of the Vampires with the show's composer, Jim Steinman.

by Paul Webb Theatrenow