Chief executive and trustee Neil Constable has advised the board that he will be stepping down from the role by the end of 2021, after almost 14 years at Shakespeare’s Globe.
Constable has guided the charity through three years of disruption from the pandemic, prioritising the security and future of the two-theatre venue and its significant education department.
Having joined the Globe in 2010, Constale became ‘project champion’ for the development and fundraising for the candlelit Sam Wanamaker Playhouse, which opened in 2014, and has established long-term plans for the completion of the Bankside site – as outlined by Sam Wanamaker 40 years ago.
On the news, Constable said: ‘It has been the greatest honour to serve the Globe for half its lifespan. This organisation is a truly unique place – beloved internationally, creatively ambitious, dynamic and a worthy custodian of Shakespeare for future generations to come. It is now the right moment for me to give the next generation of cultural leaders the opportunity of enjoying the adventure of this remarkable institution.’
Margaret Casely-Hayford CBE, chair of Shakespeare’s Globe, said: ‘Neil’s contribution to the Globe has been immense over the past 14 years, and on behalf of all of us, I would like to thank him for his years of dedicated leadership and vision. London’s creative economy is returning, and the Globe is ready for the challenge of adapting to the new landscape ahead of us. I have very much enjoyed working closely with Neil, ensuring our beloved wooden ‘O’ remains a triumph to celebrate for years to come.
‘The Globe is one of the UK’s most successful independent cultural organisations, with two iconic theatres, and that is a wonderful testament to Neil’s work in driving forward its incredible ambitions over the years. I am particularly grateful to him for holding the wheel during the historic pandemic disruption. For all of us in leadership positions at that time, there was no rule book and no clear route to survival, yet with a steady hand Neil ensured the Globe re-emerged with great success. The next 25 years of the Globe’s life have undoubtedly been built upon firm foundations.’