The , has announced the appointment of their new Artistic Director and co-CEO, James Brining, who will take over from David Greig from April 2025.
Brining is currently聽Artistic Director at Leeds Playhouse, where he has been since 2012. At Leeds, he has commissioned and produced 65 new plays and overseen the 拢16.8M refurbishment and rebrand of the Playhouse. During this time, he has directed a range of shows including聽A Little Night Music,聽My Fair Lady听补苍诲聽Into the Woods聽(all co-produced with Opera North); UK tours of聽Chitty Chitty Bang Bang听补苍诲聽Charlie and the Chocolate Factory 鈥� The Musical听补苍诲 a critically acclaimed in-the-round version of聽OLIVER!, playing from November 2023 – January 2024. He has also directed new and classic plays including聽Simon Armitage鈥檚聽The Bodyguard,听Arthur Miller鈥檚聽The Crucible听补苍诲聽Zinnie Harris鈥檚聽(the fall of) The Master Builder.
Brining also has a long involvement in Scottish theatre, moving to Glasgow to become the聽Artistic Director of TAG Theatre Company聽in 1997, where he commissioned leading Scottish playwrights, including David Greig, to create new works for and with children and young people. He was subsequently appointed聽Artistic Director and CEO of Dundee Rep聽in 2003 and served on the board and as聽Chair of the Federation of Scottish Theatres聽for over a decade, as well as being a founding Trustee of the Playwrights鈥� Studio Scotland.
Speaking of his appointment, James Brining said:
鈥淚t鈥檚 been a huge honour to have been a custodian of Leeds Playhouse, rooted in the city and the region I was brought up in and care about deeply. The theatre has a national and international reputation not only for producing impactful and incredible productions but equally for many pioneering initiatives, including becoming the world鈥檚 first ever Theatre of Sanctuary, and for seminal work in developing relaxed and dementia friendly performances. I鈥檓 very proud of all that鈥檚 been achieved but I am ready for a new challenge, and I鈥檓 thrilled to be returning to a place I love.
Anyone who knows me, is well aware of how much Scotland means to me and my family and we鈥檙e excited about coming home. I鈥檝e seen some incredible work at The Lyceum over the last 30 years and it’s a privilege to have the opportunity to lead such an important Scottish and UK theatre in its next chapter. I鈥檓 looking forward to building on existing relationships and forging new ones with a range of artists and partners and whilst I鈥檓 aware of the current challenges the sector is facing, I鈥檓 hugely optimistic about the opportunities to create fantastic and meaningful work in this beautiful and iconic space and beyond.鈥�
Mike Griffith, Executive Director states:
鈥淚鈥檓 very much looking forward to welcoming James back to Scotland and in particular to working with him at The Lyceum. He has been an inspirational leader from his early days at TAG in Glasgow, leading a range of major organisations along the way. He has kept close ties with Scotland since his move to Leeds and his return to Scotland is a major boost to the artistic community here.
He knows the work of The Royal Lyceum very well and he will be joining in time to contribute to our 60th Anniversary Season planning.鈥�
Tari Lang, Chair of The Royal Lyceum Theatre Edinburgh, added:
鈥淚 am excited to welcome James as The Royal Lyceum Theatre鈥檚 new Artistic Director. Throughout a rigorous recruitment process James shone with his wealth of experience and passion for theatre. His love of Edinburgh and The Lyceum was powerful, as was his strategic vision for The Lyceum鈥檚 next phase. I should also like to thank David Greig, who for the past nine years has taken The Lyceum to its position as Scotland鈥檚 premier producing theatre. Working with Mike Griffiths, I believe James will build on this artistic legacy and steer us through our sector鈥檚 choppy waters into a strong future.
David Greig, current Artistic Director said:
I鈥檓 delighted that James will be the next Artist Director of The Lyceum. Those of us who care deeply about The Lyceum will feel excitement and optimism with this appointment. James has the skills, experience and boldness we need. These are tough times in Scottish theatre, but James is the person to lead The Lyceum through the challenges. I can鈥檛 wait to see what his plans are. I look forward to supporting him and The Lyceum as an audience member, an artist and a Lyceum fan for the years ahead.