David Berthold to leave Griffin at end of 2006
29 May 2006
Griffin Theatre Company Chair Stephen Collins today announced that Artistic Director David Berthold would be leaving Griffin at the end of the year.
Collins said "David has led Griffin since July 2003 and has overseen enormous growth. Over this time, the company has attracted some of the best playwrights in the country while audiences have increased by 75%. This year, each production is playing an extra two weeks to accommodate the growth. Sponsorship and other funding levels have also grown. The Board is grateful to David for his vision and commitment to Griffin and the development of new Australian theatre."
Berthold said that it’s been a great ride: “My time at Griffin has been a whirlwind of wonderfully stimulating challenge and change. I’ve so thoroughly enjoyed my three seasons with Griffin, not only the productions themselves, but also the programs we’ve developed to make sure the good stuff keeps coming. The artistic and audience growth we’ve so enjoyed has happened quicker than I expected. It’s been very satisfying for us all.”
Griffin scored a coup when top playwright Louis Nowra agreed to write a trilogy for the company especially for the intimate SBW Stables stage. The final part of that trilogy, The Emperor of Sydney, is Berthold’s next production for Griffin and stars Alex Dimitriades, Susie Porter and Toby Schmitz.
Griffin’s Playwrights’ Residency, a Berthold initiative, has produced quick and stunning results. In its first year, two plays emerged from the program straight into Griffin’s main season. One of those plays, Tommy Murphy’s Strangers in Between, last week won the $15,000 NSW Premier’s Literary Award for Best Play. Murphy, 26, is the youngest winner of the award in its 23-year history. Another Murphy play to emerge from the residency will be Berthold’s final production – an adaptation of Timothy Conigrave’s iconic Australian memoir Holding the Man.
This year, Berthold’s production of Debra Oswald’s The Peach Season became the highest grossing production in Griffin’s 28-year history and gathered great critical praise. Griffin’s 2004 production of Oswald’s Mr Bailey’s Minder, the first Oswald play ever produced by Griffin, is currently on a national tour.
Collins said that the Board is happy that Griffin is in such fine shape. "David's tenure has ensured that his successor will have a solid foundation on which to build the next chapter of the company's life. All members of the Board salute David's efforts and wish him well in his new endeavours"
Berthold’s career has long been associated with theatre companies and his time at Griffin caps 15 continuous years holding key artistic positions is some of Australia’s most important theatres. His four years as Artistic Director of ATYP turned that company from crisis to a national leader. He was also five years Associate Director of Sydney Theatre Company and spent three years at Queensland Theatre Company.
“I’m a great believer in companies, in the opportunities they can create for artists to be at their best and for returning audiences to share in the joy and insight artists offer,” Berthold commented. “I feel that Griffin is now in a good place from which to launch into an even wider orbit. I expect that the transition will be smooth. There are good things ahead, and I will be sorry to not be a direct part of them, but the time feels right.”
Berthold will direct in Berlin in 2007. “2007 will also be about extending my work into areas I’ve been thinking about for some time. After 15 years in theatre company environments, the time is right for me to touch on other artforms. I’m editing a book on Beijing, and will devote time to exploring filmmaking. I know that my future contribution to Australian theatre will be richer for this.”
“I thank Griffin and all who sail in her for sharing with me what has been a exhilarating ride.”
