It may be a co-incidence, but at the same time that a number of leading artistic directorships are up for grabs - the Donmar, Hampstead, the Almeida - Jude Kelly, Director of the West Yorkshire Playhouse, has announced that she will be leaving the prestigious Northern venue in late 2002.
Kelly was one of the candidates for the directorship of the National Theatre, earlier this year. She says she is leaving to face new challenges: "The West Yorkshire Playhouse has afforded me a thrilling opportunity to work with regional, national and international artists, colleagues and policy-makers... I am excited by what new challenges the future holds for me and am keen to see the Playhouse evolve under new leadership." And where better to find challenges than the Donmar?
—by Paul Webb Theatrenow