Since completing the Royal Shakespeare Company's new award-winning HQ in Stratford-upon-Avon, opening Glyndebourne Opera's new Ebert Recital Room and embarking on a multi-million pound transformation of the National Theatre in London, the company has sought to share its wealth of experience in performing arts consultancy service internationally.
As part of that initiative Charcoalblue's co-founder, Jon Stevens, will be opening the company's American office on West 26th Street in Manhattan. "We are thrilled to have assisted Susan Feldman and the St Ann's Warehouse team to find and develop their new temporary theatre on Jay Street in Brooklyn," says Stevens, "and we are looking forward to continuing our current inspiring and creative collaborations with Chicago Shakespeare and Steppenwolf Theater companies from our New York studio.
"Having just taken part in the North American Theatre, Engineering and Architecture Conference, as contributors and sponsors, we're very much looking forward to exploring a new way of working with American performing arts companies. At the same time we look forward to offering the distinctive Charcoalblue collaborative approach to new audiences."
"I'm excited that Jon Stevens is to head-up our US operation," says Charcoalblue managing partner Andy Hayles. "Jon and I first worked together as theatre electricians at the Lyceum Theatre in Sheffield and have continued a fulfilling working relationship across two decades of shows, concerts, buildings and parties all over the world. Jon will be in New York from September this year so if you're in the city do drop by - our door is always open."
(Jim Evans)