Hornchurch theatre bids fond farewell to popular artistic director

Douglas Rintoul will be leaving the post of artistic director in mid May.

The Queen's Theatre Hornchurch (QTH) has announced that its artistic director will be moving on to pastures new in May.

Douglas Rintoul has been a part of the team at Queen's for six successful years and will complete his run at the theatre in Hornchurch by directing previously announced major revivals of 'All My Sons' and 'The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole Aged 13 3/4 - The Musical'.

With a wealth of experience behind him, Douglas was previously an assistant director at London Bubble and the English Shakespeare Company, a script reader for Soho Theatre, and an administrator at Complicité, amongst other roles. Moving forward, the popular theatre professional will be taking on a leadership role at the New Wolsey Theatre in Ipswich.

Douglas said: "I've had the best time at Queen's Theatre Hornchurch. It is a special organisation that's deeply embedded in its communities and I'm proud of what we've achieved.

"It's been an honour to work with our brilliant staff, trustees, partners and communities and to support our talented local artists. I've loved being able to make work that's not been seen only in Hornchurch but across the country and abroad and I can't wait to see what the organisation does next."

Matthew Russell, executive director at Queen's Theatre Hornchurch, has worked closely with Douglas over the past five years. He said: "It has been a privilege to work with Doug and for us both to be part of such an extraordinary period of change including establishing programmes like Essex on Stage, Outer Limits and Havering Changing, reaching 45 per cent new audiences, working as founding Theatre partners with the National Theatre on Public Acts, expanding our co-producing, touring and off-site work, transforming the building itself and diversifying those we work with and reach.

"It was a shared highlight to see QTH recognised as London Theatre of the Year, the first Outer London borough theatre to be awarded this status."

Sara Thompson, chair of QTH, said: "On behalf of the board, staff and ‎stakeholders, we owe Doug a huge vote of thanks for his amazing efforts, boundless talent and dedication to the work of the charity, not only in helping to transform the theatre in so many ways but in directing and overseeing such a string of award-winning productions enjoyed by hundreds of thousands of people.

"Like our artists and audiences, we will be very sad to see him leave but proud that he's moving on to lead one of our closest partner theatres, meaning we can continue to collaborate into the future. We wish him the very best of success."

For more information, visit: www.queens-theatre.co.uk.

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