George Gunn Steps Down As Artistic Director of Grey Coast

21st August 2009

After 17 years and more than 35 productions, George Gunn is stepping down as Artistic Director of Grey Coast Theatre Company. George founded Grey Coast in 1992 to produce theatre which is relevant to the culture of the North, to promote new writing for the theatre in the North and to bring the culture of the North of Scotland to the rest of the country through locally produced theatre.

George Gunn emphasised that his vision for the Company had never been simply to produce his own work but that it should become a strong, independent organisation.

'I am very proud to have of what Grey Coast has achieved over the years and I am sure that it will continue to play an important role in the cultural life of the Highlands and Scotland nationally. Over the years, I have worked some great theatre artists from Scotland, Ireland and Scandinavia and I've enjoyed every minute of it. I am glad that Grey Coast will continue this work but the time has come for me to move on.

Running Grey Coast has taken all of my time and energy over the years and the last couple of years have been particularly difficult. The whole environment for theatre has changed - funding is far more difficult, the agencies who are supposed to be supporting culture and the arts in the North are completely ineffective and the situation for the small touring companies has worsened across Scotland.

'We've been touring less over the last couple of years while we've been looking for a way to ensure that the core work of the Company - to encourage as many people to participate in the arts and explore their own culture as possible - continues and I think that the Company has found a way to achieve this. In the meantime, I have been working on a lot of other projects - I have a new collection of poetry coming out soon and, as a playwright, I have started to work with other companies and on new collaborations outside the Highlands.'

Gail Ross, the Chair of Grey Coast, said the contribution that George has made to the cultural life of the North through Grey Coast Theatre Company should not be underestimated. 'I know that as a poet and playwright he will continue to be a major influence both in the County and across Scotland.' said Gail. 'He will also continue to be a significant part of the ongoing work of the Company - the next two theatre projects for the Company will both include new work by George Gunn. Grey Coast's contribution to the Caithness Arts Drama Festival on 4th and 5th September will be Fields of Barley and the Company will be working with all the schools in the county on its Caithness Voices project in the new term which George will be writing.

George founded Grey Coast and the Company will continue to be true to his vision while he moves on in his creative life and finds new ways to contribute to the culture of the North.'

There are no plans to replace George as Artistic Director. Grey Coast will be announcing a new structure and way forward for the Company in the near future but this is a time to thank George for his work, his vision and his unique and unquestionably enormous contribution to theatre in the Highlands.