Rufus Norris, outgoing Director of the National Theatre, will receive a Special Award for his services to the theatre industry at this year’s Olivier Awards with Mastercard.
Following a 10-year tenure, Rufus will step down as Director of the National Theatre at the end of this month having overseen more than 170 productions at the theatre’s South Bank venue, with his final programmed play, David Eldridge’s End, opening in November. During his tenure, Rufus has driven forward key commitments to staging new work, increasing representation on and off stage, making theatre more sustainable and increasing the National Theatre’s worldwide footprint, with a current global audience reach of 19 million. His recent productions include Nye, Hex, Small Island, Macbeth, Mosquitoes, My Country; a work in progress, The Threepenny Opera, wonder.land and Everyman. Previously, Rufus was an Associate Director at the National Theatre, directing Behind the Beautiful Forevers, The Amen Corner, Table, London Road, Death and the King’s Horseman and Market Boy.