Dundee Rep losing ‘inspirational leader’ James Brining

Dundee Rep is to lose its chief executive and artistic director James Brining.

The Leeds-born director has announced he is quitting the post he has held for nine years and returning home to lead the West Yorkshire Playhouse.

His departure will be a serious blow to the theatre, which has won several awards under his tenure but has had to cope with a reduced production budget in recent months.

Mr Brining said: ”I have spent nine fantastic years at Dundee Rep. The opportunity for me to lead the West Yorkshire Playhouse into a new era is too good to miss but I look forward to returning to Dundee and Scotland on a regular basis and to watching the continued growth of the reputation of the city as an exciting, dynamic and ground-breaking place to make great theatre.”

Peter Inglis, the Rep’s chairman, said Mr Brining had been an “inspirational leader”.

He went on: “His artistic integrity and drive has seen the theatre develop and build in spite of the current economic climate.”