Rufus Norris
Rufus Norris | |
|---|---|
 Norris in 2012 | |
| Born | 16 January 1965 Cambridge,England |
| Education | RADA |
| Occupation | Theatre director |
| Spouse |
Tanya Ronder (m.1995) |
Rufus Norris(born 16 January 1965) is a British theatre and film director, who is currently the artistic director and chief executive of theNational Theatre.
Life and career
[edit]Norris grew up in Africa and Malaysia, attendedNorth Bromsgrove High Schooland Kidderminster College of Further Education, and later trained as an actor atRADAbefore turning to directing.
In 2001 he won theEvening Standard Awardfor Outstanding Newcomer for his production ofDavid Rudkin'sAfore Night Comeat theYoung Vic.[1]
In 2004, Norris won another Evening Standard Award, a Critic's Circle Award and anOlivier Awardnomination for Best Director, for his production ofFesten.[2][3]
In 2006 he made his National Theatre debut directingMarket BoybyDavid Eldridge.From 2002 to 2007 Norris was an Associate Director at the Young Vic, where his productions have includedFeastby Yunior Garcia Aguilera,Rotimi Babatunde,Marcos Barbosa,Tanya BarfieldandGbolahan Obisesan(2013),Vernon God LittlebyDBC Pierre(2007), adapted by Tanya Ronder (2009 and 2011),Hergé's Adventures of Tintin,which Norris adapted, withDavid Greig(Barbican,2005; UK tour & West End, 2007) and his own adaptation ofSleeping Beauty(Young Vic, 2002; Barbican, 2004, UK & international tour).
His production of theKander and EbbmusicalCabaret,produced byBill Kenwright,ran at theLyric Theatrein London'sWest Endfrom 2006 to 2008. The production toured in 2008 and 2009 before being revived at theSavoy Theatrein 2012, followed by another UK tour. Another UK tour began in 2017.
In 2009, Norris's first filmKing Bastard,written by his wife Tanya Ronder, was produced byBBCFilms. In the same year, he directed the National Theatre's production ofWole Soyinka'sDeath and the King's Horseman,which played in theOlivier Theatre.[4]
He created the 2011 productionDr Deefor theManchester International Festival,in collaboration with musicianDamon Albarn,which was subsequently performed atENOin 2012. In 2010 he directedMozart'sDon Giovanni,also for ENO.[5]
Norris was made an associate director at the National Theatre in 2011. His production ofLondon RoadbyAlecky Blytheand Adam Cork opened at the Cottesloe in 2011, before transferring to the Olivier in 2012, winning the Critics' Circle Award for Best Musical.
His 2012 filmBrokenpremiered at theCannes Film Festivaland received the Golden Eye Award for best international film at theZurich Film Festival.At the 2012British Independent Film Awardsit won the award for Best British Independent Film.
In 2013 his production of Tanya Ronder's playTablelaunched the new space, The Shed, at the National Theatre. He subsequently directedJames Baldwin'sThe Amen Cornerat the National Theatre.
Director of the National Theatre
[edit]In March 2015, Norris replacedNicholas Hytneras artistic director of the National Theatre.[6]During his first season, he directed the medieval playEverymanin a new adaptation byCarol Ann DuffystarringChiwetel Ejioforin the title role and for the Christmas season, the premiere of a new musical,Wonder. Land(following a run in summer of 2015 at theManchester International Festivaland before a run at theThéâtre du Châteletin summer of 2016) with music byDamon Albarnand lyrics and book byMoira Buffini,inspired byLewis Carroll's novelsAlice's Adventures in WonderlandandThrough the Looking-Glass.[7]
In summer 2016 he directedBertolt BrechtandKurt Weill'sThe Threepenny Opera,in a new adaptation bySimon Stephensand starringRory Kinnearas Macheath. In spring 2017 he directedMy Country; a work in progressby Carol Ann Duffy, using the words of people across the UK regardingBrexit,which was followed by a UK tour. In the Dorfman Auditorium in July 2017 he directed a new playMosquitoesbyLucy Kirkwood,starringOlivia ColmanandOlivia Williams.[8]In 2018 he directed his firstShakespeareplay in 25 years,Macbeth,with a cast including Rory Kinnear as Macbeth andAnne-Marie Duffas Lady Macbeth.
In 2019, Norris directedHelen Edmundson's adaptation ofAndrea Levy's bookSmall Islandin the Olivier Theatre at the National Theatre.[9]The critically acclaimed production[10][11]was broadcast to cinemas worldwide byNational Theatre Live.[12]Following its initial sold-out run,Small Islandwas scheduled to return to the Olivier Theatre in late 2020, but the Covid-19 pandemic delayed its return until spring 2022.[13]Small Islandwas also shown as part of the free National Theatre at Home steaming programme during the UK 2020 Covid-19 lockdown.[14]
Hexopened in December 2021 but the production was curtailed in January 2022 due to a resurgence of Covid-19. It was restaged at the end of 2022 and ran into January 2023. The critical reaction was favourable,[15]
In June 2023, Norris announced that he would be stepping down from his position in spring 2025.[16]
Honorary Degree
[edit]In November 2023, Norris received the honorary degree, Doctor of Letters (DLitt),[17]from theUniversity of St Andrews.
Views
[edit]On 16 August 2018, he condemned the destruction of the Said al-Mishal Cultural Centre in Gaza, which was destroyed by Israeli airstrikes on 11 August 2018.[18][19]
Work
[edit]Theatre productions
[edit]| Play | Playwright | Theatre | Opening date | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hex | Tanya Ronder, Jim Fortune and Rufus Norris | Olivier Theatre, National Theatre | 6 December 2022 | |
| Small Island | Helen Edmundson | Olivier Theatre,National Theatre | 1 May 2019 | Broadcast as part ofNational Theatre Liveand streamed as part of National Theatre at Home |
| Macbeth | William Shakespeare | Olivier Theatre,National Theatre& UK Tour | 26 February 2018 | [20] |
| Mosquitoes | Lucy Kirkwood | Dorfman Theatre,National Theatre | 18 July 2017 | [21] |
| My Country: a work in progress | Carol Ann Duffy | Dorfman Theatre,National Theatre& UK Tour | 28 February 2017 | [22] |
| The Threepenny Opera | Bertolt Brecht&Kurt Weill,translated and revised bySimon Stephens | Olivier Theatre,National Theatre | 25 May 2016 | Broadcast as part ofNational Theatre Live |
| wonder.land | Moira Buffini&Damon Albarn | Manchester International Festival& Olivier Theatre,National Theatre | 23 November 2015 | [23] |
| Everyman | Carol Ann Duffy | Olivier Theatre, | 22 April 2015 | Broadcast as part ofNational Theatre Live[24] |
| Behind the Beautiful Forevers | David Hare,based onthe bookbyKatherine Boo | Olivier Theatre, | 10 November 2014 | Broadcast as part ofNational Theatre Live[24] |
| The Amen Corner | James Baldwin | Olivier Theatre, | 11 June 2013 | [25] |
| Table | Tanya Ronder | The Shed,National Theatre | 9 April 2013 | [25] |
| Cabaret | John Kander,Fred Ebb&Joe Masteroff | Savoy Theatre | 3 October 2012 | [26] |
| London Road | Alecky Blythe& Adam Cork | Cottesloe and Olivier Theatre,National Theatre | 7 April 2011 & 12 August 2012 | Won Critics' Circle Award for Best Musical.[27]
Nominated for fourOlivier Awardsin 2012, including Best Director and Best New Musical.[28] |
| Doctor Dee | Damon Albarn | Palace Theatre,Manchester | 30 June 2011 | [29] |
| Vernon God Little | Tanya Ronder | Young Vic | 27 January 2011 | [30] |
| Don Giovanni | Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart | English National Opera | 6 November 2010 | [31] |
| The Country Girl | Clifford Odets | Theatre Royal, Windsor | 21 July 2010 | [32] |
| Death and the King's Horseman | Wole Soyinka | Olivier Theatre,National Theatre | 1 April 2009 | [33] |
| Les Liaisons Dangereuses | Christopher Hampton | Selwyn Theatre,Broadway | 1 May 2008 | Nominated for the Tony Award for Best Revival of a Play in 2008.[34] |
| Cabaret | John Kander,Fred Ebb&Joe Masteroff | Lyric Theatre& UK Tour | 22 September 2006[35] | [36] |
| Market Boy | David Eldridge | Olivier Theatre,National Theatre | 27 May 2006 | [37] |
| Festen | David Eldridge | Music Box Theatre,Broadway | 23 March 2006 | [38] |
| Festen | David Eldridge | Almeida Theatre | 29 March 2004[39] | Won both theEvening StandardandCritics CircleBest Director Awards.
Nominated for fiveOlivier Awardsin 2005.[40] |
| Nye | Tim Price | Royal National Theatre,Wales Millennium Centre[41] | 24 February 2024 | Broadcast as part ofNational Theatre Liveand streamed as part of National Theatre at Home[42] |
Filmography
[edit]- 2009King Bastard
- 2012Broken
- 2015London Road
References
[edit]- ^Curtis, Nick (26 October 2010)."Opera for the unconverted".London Evening Standard.Archived fromthe originalon 13 June 2011.Retrieved18 March2011.
- ^Curtis, Nick (13 October 2006)."The man who made this Cabaret go round".London Evening Standard.Archived fromthe originalon 12 September 2012.Retrieved18 March2011.
- ^"Eldridge Collects Festen's Best Play Award".What's on Stage.Retrieved18 March2011.
- ^Coveney, Michael(13 April 2009)."Death and the King's Horseman review".The Independent.Retrieved18 March2011.
- ^"Doctor Dee".Manchester International Festival website.Archived fromthe originalon 21 March 2011.Retrieved18 March2011.
- ^"National Theatre Twitter Feed".Retrieved15 October2013.
- ^"Rufus Norris announces first season as National Theatre artistic director".whatsonstage.com.What's on Stage. 21 January 2015.Retrieved4 May2015.
- ^Billington, Michael(26 July 2017)."Mosquitoes review – sparring sisters collide in Lucy Kirkwood's science stormer".The Guardian.ISSN0261-3077.
- ^"Andrea Levy's Small Island novel to be staged next year".TheGuardian.com.3 October 2018.
- ^"The Stage Theatre Round Up - Small island".7 May 2019.
- ^"Guardian Review - Small Island".TheGuardian.com.2 May 2019.
- ^"National Theatre Live website - Small Island".
- ^"Evening Standard - Theatre News".19 February 2020.
- ^Wiegand, Chris (11 June 2020)."National Theatre announces final free streams including Small Island".The Guardian.ISSN0261-3077.Retrieved7 October2020.
- ^The Guardian (7 December 2022)."Musical Sleeping Beauty casts a darkly dazzling spell".
- ^"Rufus Norris to step down as National Theatre leader in spring 2025".The Guardian.15 June 2023.Retrieved16 June2023.
- ^"Rufus Norris - Graduation - University of St Andrews".www.st-andrews.ac.uk.Retrieved28 November2023.
- ^Letters (16 August 2018)."We condemn the destruction of Gaza cultural centre in Israeli airstrike | Letter".the Guardian.Retrieved19 February2022.
- ^Ritman, Alex (21 August 2018)."British Film and Theater Figures Condemn Israeli Bombing of Major Gaza Cultural Center".The Hollywood Reporter.Retrieved19 February2022.
- ^Billington, Michael (7 March 2018)."Macbeth review – Rufus Norris's brutal take misses the poetry".The Guardian.ISSN0261-3077.Retrieved7 October2020.
- ^Billington, Michael (26 July 2017)."Mosquitoes review – sparring sisters collide in Lucy Kirkwood's science stormer".The Guardian.ISSN0261-3077.Retrieved7 October2020.
- ^"My Country: A Work in Progress review – Carol Ann Duffy tackles Brexit".the Guardian.12 March 2017.Retrieved7 October2020.
- ^Billington, Michael (3 July 2015)."wonder.land review – Damon Albarn musical goes down digital rabbit hole".The Guardian.ISSN0261-3077.Retrieved7 October2020.
- ^abNational Theatre Live,retrieved7 October2020
- ^ab"CalmView: Overview".catalogue.nationaltheatre.org.uk.Retrieved7 October2020.
- ^Gardner, Lyn (10 October 2012)."Cabaret – review".The Guardian.ISSN0261-3077.Retrieved7 October2020.
- ^Editor, Web (24 January 2012)."The 2011 Critics' Circle Theatre Awards".The Critics' Circle.Retrieved7 October2020.
{{cite web}}:|last=has generic name (help) - ^"Olivier Winners 2012".Olivier Awards.Retrieved7 October2020.
- ^Hickling, Alfred (1 July 2011)."Dr Dee, Palace Theatre, Manchester | First night review".The Guardian.ISSN0261-3077.Retrieved7 October2020.
- ^"Vernon God Little".Young Vic website.Retrieved7 October2020.
- ^"Don Giovanni, English National Opera".theartsdesk.com.7 November 2010.Retrieved7 October2020.
- ^"Production of The Country Girl | Theatricalia".theatricalia.com.Retrieved7 October2020.
- ^"CalmView: Overview".catalogue.nationaltheatre.org.uk.Retrieved7 October2020.
- ^"The Tony Award Nominations".www.tonyawards.com.Retrieved7 October2020.
- ^"Cabaret the Musical London theatre stage show".www.thisistheatre.com.Retrieved7 October2020.
- ^"Cabaret, Lyric Theatre, London".the Guardian.11 October 2006.Retrieved7 October2020.
- ^"CalmView: Overview".catalogue.nationaltheatre.org.uk.Retrieved7 October2020.
- ^"Festen Broadway @ Music Box Theatre - Tickets and Discounts".Playbill.Retrieved7 October2020.
- ^"BBC - London - Entertainment - Theatre - Festen, a first night review -".www.bbc.co.uk.Retrieved7 October2020.
- ^"Olivier Winners 2005".Olivier Awards.Retrieved7 October2020.
- ^Price, Stephen (14 February 2024)."Watch: First look at Michael Sheen in 'Nye' trailer".Nation.Cymru.Retrieved15 April2024.
- ^Powster."Nye | Official Website | 23 April 2024".Nye | Official Website | 23 April 2024.Retrieved15 April2024.
External links
[edit]- "Curtis Brown: Rufus Norris".curtisbrown.co.uk.
