Traverse boosts team with new associate director

Gareth Nicholls Edinburgh’s Traverse Theatre has appointed a new associate director to help develop new work and direct productions.

Gareth Nicholls, who has directed acclaimed shows at Citizens Theatre and The Tron Theatre in Glasgow, will work alongside artistic director Orla O’Loughlin and fellow associate director Zinnie Harris.

His duties will include working on the dramaturgy of in-house commissions, overseeing open submissions, directing a range of ambitious new work, contributing to creative learning projects and assisting in both year-round and Edinburgh festival curation. He will also direct a production for this August’s festival.

He said: “The Traverse has been fundamental to the development of theatre in Scotland for decades, encouraging, challenging and emboldening artists to say what they want to say in vibrant and uncompromising new ways. It champions the strongest voices and supports the brightest talent to tell stories that cut straight to the heart of what it means to be human. “I’m looking forward to contributing to a theatre that has such a rich history, to directing bold and ambitious new work on its iconic stage, to collaborating with the very best of Scotland’s new writing talent and to building on the stellar work that’s already taking place at the Traverse.”

Nicholls directed the award-winning world premieres of A Gambler’s Guide To Dying and Donald Robertson is Not a Stand-Up Comedian at the Traverse in 2015 and 2014 respectively, both by Gary McNair who is now the Traverse’s associate artist. A Gambler’s Guide to Dying continues on its world tour, most recently at New York City’s East 59 East Theater in April.

Nicholls was main stage director in residence at the Citizens Theatre until last year, where he helmed a sell-out production of Trainspotting and acclaimed productions, Blackbird and Into That Darkness. This year, he directed the Scottish premiere of Yasmina Reza’s God of Carnage at The Tron.

O’Loughlin said: “Gareth not only brings a track record of deeply considered, stylish and sophisticated directorial work but a reputation as a supportive and collaborative practitioner. His excellent reputation both as an artist and as a champion of other artists makes him the perfect fit to work alongside myself and my team to ensure the Traverse continues to develop talent, engage new audiences and create powerful and relevant contemporary theatre with international impact.”

VISIT THE WEBSITE FOR EDINBURGH'S TRAVERSE THEATRE