Romanes to Quit Quines
Muriel Romanes to step down as Stellar Quines AD
Muriel Romanes has announced, “with much sadness”, that she is to resign her post as artistic director of Stellar Quines in April 2016.
Romanes was one of the founders of the Edinburgh-based company in 1993 and took over the role of artistic director in 1996.
Muriel Romanes
Announcing the news, Romanes said: “It is with much sadness that I have announced my resignation as the Artistic Director of Stellar Quines Theatre Company as from 30th April 2016.
“I wish to enable the Company to move forward embracing a more passionate wider and ambitious landscape to exist in. I wish Stellar Quines much success for the future.”
The company achieved Regular Funded Organisation status from Creative Scotland last November, and scored strong critical success at this year’s fringe with the Jennifer Tremblay Trilogy.
Stellar Quines set out to “celebrate the energy, experience and perspective of women in theatre” and provides a platform for women’s stories, creating theatre driven by women and where female practitioners are at the forefront of all creative roles.
Guiding light
Commenting on Romanes resignation, company chair Marilyn Imrie said: “Through her years as the guiding light of this company, Muriel Romanes has ensured that women’s talents in all areas of theatre making in Scotland are celebrated and given a voice and a platform and room to grow.
“She leaves the company at the height of her powers, and she will, I know, continue to provide inspiration to theatre makers in Scotland and internationally.”
Romanes has directed many productions for the company including an award-winning production of The Unconquered by Torben Betts in 2007. In 2011 she won Best Director at the Critics Awards for Theatre in Scotland for Age of Arousal, a co-production with the Royal Lyceum Theatre Company.
She directed the first part of the Tremblay Trilogy The List, starring Maureen Beattie, in 2012. It won a Scotsman Fringe First, Herald Angel Award and Best Production at the Critics Awards for Theatre in Scotland.
Subsequently the second and third parts of the trilogy: The Carousel and The Deliverance, also starring Beattie, won Scotsman Fringe Firsts in 2014 and 2015. Beattie won a Stage Award for Acting Excellence for the trilogy at the fringe in 2015.
Romanes will direct the forthcoming tour of Threads by Sylvia Dow, which starts rehearsals on Monday and tours 31 October to 7 November. She will lead the forthcoming Rehearsal Room 26 at the Traverse Theatre on 13 and 14 November.
Stellar Quines website: http://www.stellarquines.com/
