Cooke is currently associate director at the Royal Shakespeare Company, where he has led the RSC’s annual New Work Festival. His wide-ranging brief tenure at the RSC has also included helping artistic director Michael Boyd shape the company’s overall artistic policy.

Prior to his position with the RSC, Cooke was an associate director at the Royal Court from 1999-2002. His work there includes Spinning Into Butter, The People Are Friendly and Plasticine. He also directed Holly Hunter in the 2004-05 West End premiere of By the Bog of Cats, Marina Carr’s adaptation of Euripides’ Medea.

Responding to the appointment Cooke said, “The Royal Court is one of the leading theatres in the world and I am delighted to be taking over from Ian Rickson as artistic director and pursuing my vision for its future.”

Anthony Burton, Chair of the Royal Court’s selection committee said, “Dominic Cooke dazzled the interview panel with his inspirational vision, innovative programming ideas and plans for change at the Royal Court. Dominic was the unanimous choice from a truly exceptional field.”

The 39-year-old director’s forthcoming production for the RSC is a revival of Arthur Miller’s The Crucible, which begins previews at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford Feb. 16, opening March 1.