New Globe artistic director named

Dominic Dromgoole will join the Globe at the end of the year

Landmark London theatre venue Shakespeare's Globe has appointed Dominic Dromgoole to take over as artistic director.

He will replace Mark Rylance when he leaves at the end of the year.

Rylance joined the Globe before it opened in 1997 and, as an experienced actor, has regularly taken roles in his productions.

Dromgoole is the current artistic director of the Oxford Stage Company, which tours the UK.

He has previously been in charge of the London's Bush Theatre, working on new productions including Trainspotting and Beautiful Thing.

I am full of delight and excitement that I've been offered a chance to work at the Globe Dominic Dromgoole

He then went to work for the respected Sir Peter Hall as his new plays director before joining the Oxford Stage Company in 1998.

Dromgoole is currently directing Jonny Lee Miller in Someone Who'll Watch Over Me at the New Ambassadors Theatre in London.

"I am full of delight and excitement that I've been offered a chance to work with you at the Globe," he said in a statement to staff.

"Its commercial success, its passionate relationship with its audience and its pervasive aura of warmth and enchantment are high standards for all other theatres to respect."

Rylance said he was leaving the Globe after achieving all he had set out to do at the theatre.