Announcement: Artistic Director to Step Down at Necessary Angel Theatre Company

From Press Release

Daniel Brooks, Artistic Director of Necessary Angel Theatre Company since 2003, will step down at the conclusion of the 2011/12 season, which ends June 30, 2012.

After nine highly successful seasons with the company, Brooks felt the time was right to consider new artistic opportunities not possible while overseeing the work of Necessary Angel. He will continue to consult for the theatre through a period of transition and renewal as the company enters its 35th season.

In announcing his resignation, Mr. Brooks said, “It has been a privilege being the Artistic Director of Necessary Angel, and I am grateful for the amazing opportunities it has afforded me.  I wish to thank my colleagues and the Board for their support over the years, and I wish the company great success in the future.”

Board President Leonard McHardy commented, “We recognize and are indebted to Daniel for the truly outstanding contribution he has made to the artistic standards of Necessary Angel and to the whole theatre community across Canada.  Daniel has mentored young artists at Necessary Angel whose work itself has received acclaim both nationally and internationally.

Under his leadership, Daniel has been responsible for the creation of work which is consistently original and imaginatively theatrical in all respects. His particular artistic genius has allowed people to experience theatre in new and unique ways, which are still totally faithful to the goals and mission of Necessary Angel Theatre Company. We wish him the very best with his future endeavours.”

The inaugural recipient of the Elinore & Lou Siminovitch Prize in Theatre, Daniel Brooks created highly regarded work during his tenure at Toronto’s Necessary Angel that often toured Canada and around the globe, winning numerous prestigious awards along the way. Highlights include Bigger Than Jesus with Rick Miller, John Mighton’s Half Life, a stage version with music of Michael Ondaatje’s Divisadero and, working in collaboration with Daniel MacIvor, This Is What Happens Next.

Necessary Angel will present Daniel Brooks’ production of This Is What Happens Next on tour next season in Halifax, Calgary and at Australia’s Adelaide Festival.

A search committee is being formed to find a successor.