Andrew Upton to Become Sole Artistic Director of Sydney Theatre Company

By Adam Hetrick
16 Aug 2012

Andrew Upton
Andrew Upton
Photo by Lisa Tomasetti

The Sydney Theatre Company has announced that Andrew Upton, who currently serves as co-artistic director with his wife, Academy Award-winning actress Cate Blanchett, will become the sole artistic director of the theatre for the next three years.

Uptown and Blanchett announced plans in Janurary to vacate their roles at STC after six years, with their final season of programming as co-artistic directors to be presented in 2013. That season will be announced Sept. 6.

Blanchett will exit her role at STC, with Upton now remaining.

STC issued the following statement on Upton's renewal: "We are very pleased that we were able to convince Andrew to accept another three year term to continue this terrific creative momentum, after he and Cate made the decision to continue living in Australia. The board considers Andrew to be the best person to build on the outstanding work he and Cate have achieved. As incoming artistic director, Upton will immediately commence planning for the 2014 season."

The Sydney Theatre Company was most recently represented in New York with the Lincoln Center Festival production of Uncle Vanya, starring Blanchett and Richard Roxburgh. STC also presented Tennessee Williams' A Streetcar Named Desire to acclaim at the Brooklyn Academy of Music in 2009.

Among the artists who performed at STC are Mel Gibson, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Judy Davis, Hugo Weaving, Miranda Otto, Geoffrey Rush, Toni Collette, Rose Byrne and members of the original Broadway cast of August: Osage County.