James Dacre | |
|---|---|
| Born | James Charles Dacre May 1984 (age 39) |
| Education | Eton |
| Alma mater | |
| Occupation | Theatre director |
| Title | Artistic director, Royal & Derngate |
| Parents |
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| Relatives | Peter Dacre (grandfather) |
| Website | www |
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.
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.[3] 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.
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.