James Dacre Explained

James Dacre
Birth Name:James Charles Dacre
Education:Eton
Occupation:Theatre director
Artistic director, Royal & Derngate
Relatives:Peter Dacre (grandfather)

James Charles Dacre (born May 1984) is a British theatre, opera and film director and producer. He was artistic director of Royal & Derngate Theatres in Northampton from 2013-2023[1] and prior to that held Associate Director roles at The New Vic Theatre, Theatre503 and The National Youth Theatre.

Early years

James Dacre was born in 1984,[2] the son of Paul Dacre, former editor of the Daily Mail.[3] He won a King's Scholarship to Eton[4] where he won the Newcastle Scholarship. He then studied Theology, Religion and Philosophy of Religion[5] at Jesus College, Cambridge[6] where he edited Varsity, the student newspaper[7] and directed at the ADC, taking several productions to the Edinburgh Festival. On graduating, he won a Fulbright Scholarship and Shubert Fellowship to study Theatre Directing at Columbia University School of the Arts in New York.[8] Dacre then worked as an assistant director to twelve directors including Anne Bogart, Robert Woodruff and Silviu Purcărete, and trained on the ITV/Channel 4 regional theatre director scheme[9] at the New Vic Theatre in Stoke-on-Trent.

Career

On returning from America, Dacre directed and produced The Mountaintop,[10] which transferred to the West End and went on to become the surprise winner of the 2010 Olivier Award for Best New Play.[11] Subsequently, he became Associate Director at the New Vic Theatre and Theatre503[12] and directed in the West End and at Shakespeare's Globe, Royal Exchange Theatre, Royal National Theatre and many regional theatres before taking up his current role at Royal & Derngate. He held this role for a decade, producing more than 120 shows of which 60 toured both nationally and internationally and 42 transferred to London[13] and were recognised with Olivier, Evening Standard, WhatsOnStage and The Stage awards.[14]  

In 2015, Royal & Derngate won the UK Theatre Award for Best Presentation of Touring Theatre,[15] for an ambitious season of productions staged nationwide, including the world premiere of Arthur Miller's The Hook[16] [17] produced to mark the centenary of his birth[18] [19] and Shakespeare's King John[20] staged at Shakespeare's Globe, Salisbury Cathedral,[21] Temple Church and The Holy Sepulchre to celebrate the 800th anniversary of the signing of Magna Carta.[22]

In 2016, Royal & Derngate was shortlisted for The Stage's Regional Theatre of the Year Award,[23] having reached more than half a million audiences across the UK and toured to over 65 theatres that year. Also in 2016, Dacre's production of The Herbal Bed[24] won Best Touring Production at the UK Theatre Awards.[25] In 2019/20 the venue was chosen as Outstanding Theatre of the Year by Michael Billington[26] won the Olivier Award for Best Family Entertainment.[27] Dacre directed the world premiere of The Two Popes by Anthony McCarten with Anton Lesser and Nicholas Woodeson,[28] which was subsequently adapted into the 2020 Oscar, Golden Globe and BAFTA nominated film The Two Popes.

Selected work

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: James Dacre announced as new artistic director at Royal & Derngate. 4 April 2013. Evening Standard. 10 June 2017. en-GB.
  2. Web site: James Charles DACRE. Companies House. 5 March 2017.
  3. News: Cavendish. Dominic. James Dacre interview: 'In ten minutes almost a thousand men were slaughtered'. 5 March 2017. The Daily Telegraph. 21 January 2013.
  4. News: James Dacre: Theatres must learn to collaborate more. Lawson. Mark. 16 September 2014. The Guardian. 10 June 2017. en-GB. 0261-3077.
  5. Web site: Alumni profiles – Faculty of Divinity. djg39@cam.ac.uk. divinity.cam.ac.uk. 16 December 2013 . en. 10 June 2017.
  6. Web site: A new Dacre take on morality . The Guardian . Michael . Coveney . 15 August 2004 . 31 December 2021.
  7. News: James Dacre brings his acclaimed version of Shakespeare's 'King. 4 June 2015. The Independent. 10 June 2017. en-GB.
  8. Web site: James Dacre: Director. ideastap.com. en. 10 June 2017.
  9. Web site: Directors, alumni and past participants – RTYDS. rtyds.co.uk. en-US. 10 June 2017.
  10. News: James Dacre: American words, British production. 23 March 2010. The Independent. 10 June 2017. en-GB.
  11. News: Katori Hall wins Best New Play title at Olivier Awards. Malvern. Jack. 10 June 2017. en.
  12. News: Theatre503 appoints new associate directors News The Stage. 18 August 2015. The Stage. 10 June 2017. en-US.
  13. Web site: Henley . Matthew . Oct 13, 2022 . James Dacre to step down as artistic director of Royal and Derngate .
  14. Web site: 13 October 2022 . James Dacre to step down as Artistic Director of Royal & Derngate after a decade next Spring .
  15. Web site: Franco-British Young Leader Biographies. francobritish.org.
  16. Smith. David. Interview with Director James Dacre. 2016. The Arthur Miller Journal. en. 11. 1. 37–47. 10.5325/arthmillj.11.1.0037. 10.5325/arthmillj.11.1.0037.
  17. News: Unseen Arthur Miller drama set for world premiere. Masters. Tim. 24 November 2014. BBC News. 10 June 2017. en-GB.
  18. News: Arthur Miller's The Hook: world premiere for 'snarling beast of a play'. Trueman. Matt. 10 June 2015. The Guardian. 10 June 2017. en-GB. 0261-3077.
  19. News: Arthur Miller's Screenplay 'The Hook' Finds a Home Onstage in England. Sulcas. Roslyn. 24 June 2015. The New York Times. 10 June 2017. en-US. 0362-4331.
  20. News: King John, Shakespeare's Globe, review: 'could hardly be more timely'. Telegraph.co.uk. 10 June 2017. en.
  21. News: Salisbury International Arts Festival 2015 diary: Day 4. Telegraph.co.uk. 10 June 2017. en.
  22. Web site: King John, by the Globe Theatre, at the Salisbury Festival Magna Carta Trails. magnacartatrails.com. en-US. 10 June 2017.
  23. News: The Stage Awards 2016 The Stage. The Stage. 10 June 2017. en-US.
  24. News: 'The Herbal Bed', Shakespeare's daughter and modern media intrusion. 8 February 2016. The Independent. 10 June 2017. en-GB.
  25. Web site: UK Theatre Award Winners 2016. uktheatre.org.
  26. Web site: Odell . Carly . 14 Oct 2022 . Royal & Derngate’s artistic director stepping down after 10 years at the helm of Northampton theatre . Northampton Chronicle.
  27. Web site: Orme . Steve . 26 October 2020 . Worst Witch wins Olivier for Northampton theatre . British Theatre Guide.
  28. Web site: Howson . Amanda . 26 September 2022 . Gripping drama The Two Popes returns to Royal & Derngate in Northampton . Northampton Chronicle.

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