{{short description|British theatre director|bot=PearBOT 5}} {{pp-sock|small=yes}} {{Use dmy dates|date=October 2019}} {{Use British English|date=December 2018}} {{Infobox person | name = James Dacre | image = | image_size = | caption = | birth_name = James Charles Dacre | birth_date = {{birth year and age|1984|05}} | birth_place = | death_date = | death_place = | death_cause = | education = Eton | alma_mater = {{ubl|Jesus College, Cambridge|Columbia University School of the Arts}} | occupation = Theatre director | title = Artistic director, Royal & Derngate | term = | predecessor = | successor = | boards = | spouse = | children = | parents = {{ubl|Paul Dacre|Kathleen Dacre}} | relatives = Peter Dacre (grandfather) | website = {{URL|www.jamesdacre.com}} | known_for = }}
'''James Charles Dacre''' (born May 1984) is a British theatre, opera and film director and producer. He was artistic director of Royal & Derngate Theatres in Northampton from 2013-2023<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.standard.co.uk/goingout/theatre/james-dacre-announced-as-new-artistic-director-at-royal-derngate-8559695.html|title=James Dacre announced as new artistic director at Royal & Derngate|date=4 April 2013|work=Evening Standard|access-date=10 June 2017|language=en-GB}}</ref> and prior to that held Associate Director roles at The New Vic Theatre, Theatre503 and The National Youth Theatre.
==Early years== James Dacre was born in 1984,<ref name="Companies House">{{cite web|title=James Charles DACRE|url=https://beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/officers/OTU-0VJiGcOZMzqHuE1ofjn5NXA/appointments|website=Companies House|access-date=5 March 2017}}</ref> the son of Paul Dacre, former editor of the ''Daily Mail''.<ref name="Daily Telegraph">{{cite news|last1=Cavendish|first1=Dominic|title=James Dacre interview: 'In ten minutes almost a thousand men were slaughtered'|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/theatre/theatre-features/9812164/James-Dacre-interview-In-ten-minutes-almost-a-thousand-men-were-slaughtered.html|access-date=5 March 2017|work=The Daily Telegraph|date=21 January 2013}}</ref> He won a King's Scholarship to Eton<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2014/sep/16/james-dacre-cat-on-a-hot-tin-roof-northampton-manchester-newcastle|title=James Dacre: Theatres must learn to collaborate more|last=Lawson|first=Mark|date=16 September 2014|work=The Guardian|access-date=10 June 2017|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077}}</ref> where he won the Newcastle Scholarship. He then studied Theology, Religion and Philosophy of Religion<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.divinity.cam.ac.uk/study-here/undergraduate/alumni-profiles#JD|title=Alumni profiles – Faculty of Divinity|last=djg39@cam.ac.uk|website=divinity.cam.ac.uk|date=16 December 2013 |language=en|access-date=10 June 2017}}</ref> at Jesus College, Cambridge<ref>{{cite web | url= https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2004/aug/15/edinburgh04.edinburgh | title= A new Dacre take on morality | work=The Guardian | first=Michael | last=Coveney | date=15 August 2004 | access-date=31 December 2021}}</ref> where he edited ''Varsity'', the student newspaper<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/theatre-dance/features/james-dacre-brings-his-acclaimed-version-of-shakespeare-s-king-john-to-the-globe-theatre-10295777.html|title=James Dacre brings his acclaimed version of Shakespeare's 'King|date=4 June 2015|work=The Independent|access-date=10 June 2017|language=en-GB}}</ref> and directed at the ADC, taking several productions to the Edinburgh Festival.<ref name="Daily Telegraph" /> On graduating, he won a Fulbright Scholarship and Shubert Fellowship to study Theatre Directing at Columbia University School of the Arts in New York.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.ideastap.com/IdeasMag/the-knowledge/james-dacre-interview|title=James Dacre: Director|website=ideastap.com|language=en|access-date=10 June 2017}}</ref> Dacre then worked as an assistant director to twelve directors including Anne Bogart, Robert Woodruff and Silviu Purcărete, and trained on the ITV/Channel 4 regional theatre director scheme<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.rtyds.co.uk/directors-and-alumni/|title=Directors, alumni and past participants – RTYDS|website=rtyds.co.uk|language=en-US|access-date=10 June 2017}}</ref> at the New Vic Theatre in Stoke-on-Trent.
==Career== On returning from America, Dacre directed and produced ''The Mountaintop'',<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/commentators/james-dacre-american-words-british-production-1925436.html|title=James Dacre: American words, British production|date=23 March 2010|work=The Independent|access-date=10 June 2017|language=en-GB}}</ref> which transferred to the West End and went on to become the surprise winner of the 2010 Olivier Award for Best New Play.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thetimes.com/culture/tv-radio/article/katori-hall-wins-best-new-play-title-at-olivier-awards-3shxm6dg28k|title=Katori Hall wins Best New Play title at Olivier Awards|last=Malvern|first=Jack|access-date=10 June 2017|language=en}}</ref> Subsequently, he became Associate Director at the New Vic Theatre and Theatre503<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thestage.co.uk/news/theatre503-appoints-new-associate-directors/|title=Theatre503 appoints new associate directors {{!}} News {{!}} The Stage|date=18 August 2015|work=The Stage|access-date=10 June 2017|language=en-US}}</ref> and directed in the West End and at Shakespeare's Globe, Royal Exchange Theatre, Royal National Theatre and many regional theatres before taking up his current role at Royal & Derngate. He held this role for a decade, producing more than 120 shows of which 60 toured both nationally and internationally and 42 transferred to London<ref>{{Cite web |last=Henley |first=Matthew |date=Oct 13, 2022 |title=James Dacre to step down as artistic director of Royal and Derngate |url=https://www.thestage.co.uk/news/james-dacre-to-step-down-as-artistic-director-of-royal-and-derngate|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221013191748/https://www.thestage.co.uk/news/james-dacre-to-step-down-as-artistic-director-of-royal-and-derngate|url-status=dead|archive-date=13 October 2022}}</ref> and were recognised with Olivier, Evening Standard, WhatsOnStage and The Stage awards.<ref>{{Cite web |date=13 October 2022 |title=James Dacre to step down as Artistic Director of Royal & Derngate after a decade next Spring |url=https://www.royalandderngate.co.uk/news/james-dacre-announcement-oct22/}}</ref>
In 2015, Royal & Derngate won the UK Theatre Award for Best Presentation of Touring Theatre,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://francobritish.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/170509_FBC_brochure_SINGLEPAGES.pdf|title=Franco-British Young Leader Biographies|website=francobritish.org}}{{Dead link|date=August 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> for an ambitious season of productions staged nationwide, including the world premiere of Arthur Miller's ''The Hook''<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Smith|first1=David|title=Interview with Director James Dacre|year=2016|journal=The Arthur Miller Journal|language=en|volume=11|issue=1|pages=37–47|doi=10.5325/arthmillj.11.1.0037|jstor=10.5325/arthmillj.11.1.0037}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-30170595|title=Unseen Arthur Miller drama set for world premiere|last=Masters|first=Tim|date=24 November 2014|work=BBC News|access-date=10 June 2017|language=en-GB}}</ref> produced to mark the centenary of his birth<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2015/jun/10/arthur-millers-the-hook-world-premiere-for-snarling-beast-of-a-play|title=Arthur Miller's The Hook: world premiere for 'snarling beast of a play'|last=Trueman|first=Matt|date=10 June 2015|work=The Guardian|access-date=10 June 2017|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/06/28/theater/arthur-millers-screenplay-the-hook-finds-a-home-onstage-in-england.html|title=Arthur Miller's Screenplay 'The Hook' Finds a Home Onstage in England|last=Sulcas|first=Roslyn|date=24 June 2015|work=The New York Times|access-date=10 June 2017|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> and Shakespeare's ''King John''<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/theatre/theatre-reviews/11658067/King-John-Shakespeares-Globe-review-could-hardly-be-more-timely.html|title=King John, Shakespeare's Globe, review: 'could hardly be more timely'|work=Telegraph.co.uk|access-date=10 June 2017|language=en}}</ref> staged at Shakespeare's Globe, Salisbury Cathedral,<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/11640729/Salisbury-International-Arts-Festival-2015-diary-Day-4.html|title=Salisbury International Arts Festival 2015 diary: Day 4|work=Telegraph.co.uk|access-date=10 June 2017|language=en}}</ref> Temple Church and The Holy Sepulchre to celebrate the 800th anniversary of the signing of Magna Carta.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://magnacartatrails.com/events/king-john-by-shakespeares-globe-theatre-at-the-salisbury-festival/|title=King John, by the Globe Theatre, at the Salisbury Festival {{!}} Magna Carta Trails|website=magnacartatrails.com|language=en-US|access-date=10 June 2017}}</ref>
In 2016, Royal & Derngate was shortlisted for The Stage's Regional Theatre of the Year Award,<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thestage.co.uk/awards-2016/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180124072230/https://www.thestage.co.uk/awards-2016/|url-status=dead|archive-date=24 January 2018|title=The Stage Awards 2016 {{!}} The Stage|work=The Stage|access-date=10 June 2017|language=en-US}}</ref> having reached more than half a million audiences across the UK and toured to over 65 theatres that year. Also in 2016, Dacre's production of ''The Herbal Bed''<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/theatre-dance/features/why-the-herbal-bed-and-shakespeares-daughter-are-relevant-to-our-age-of-media-intrusion-a6861511.html|title='The Herbal Bed', Shakespeare's daughter and modern media intrusion|date=8 February 2016|work=The Independent|access-date=10 June 2017|language=en-GB}}</ref> won Best Touring Production at the UK Theatre Awards.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://uktheatre.org/training-events/uk-theatre-awards/uk-theatre-awards-2016/|title=UK Theatre Award Winners 2016|website=uktheatre.org}}</ref> In 2019/20 the venue was chosen as Outstanding Theatre of the Year by Michael Billington<ref>{{Cite web |last=Odell |first=Carly |date=14 Oct 2022 |title=Royal & Derngate's artistic director stepping down after 10 years at the helm of Northampton theatre |url=https://www.northamptonchron.co.uk/arts-and-culture/theatre-and-stage/royal-derngates-artistic-director-stepping-down-after-10-years-at-the-helm-of-northampton-theatre-3879470 |website=Northampton Chronicle}}</ref> won the Olivier Award for Best Family Entertainment.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Orme |first=Steve |date=26 October 2020 |title=Worst Witch wins Olivier for Northampton theatre |url=https://www.britishtheatreguide.info/news/worst-witch-wins-olivier-for-n-12525 |website=British Theatre Guide}}</ref> Dacre directed the world premiere of ''The Two Popes'' by Anthony McCarten with Anton Lesser and Nicholas Woodeson,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Howson |first=Amanda |date=26 September 2022 |title=Gripping drama The Two Popes returns to Royal & Derngate in Northampton |url=https://www.northamptonchron.co.uk/arts-and-culture/theatre-and-stage/gripping-drama-the-two-popes-returns-to-royal-derngate-in-northampton-3857372 |website=Northampton Chronicle}}</ref> which was subsequently adapted into the 2020 Oscar, Golden Globe and BAFTA nominated film ''The Two Popes''.
==Selected work== * ''King John'' by William Shakespeare (Royal & Derngate, Shakespeare's Globe, Temple Church, Salisbury Cathedral and UK Tour to mark the 800th Anniversary of Magna Carta), 2015 UK Theatre Award for Best Presentation of Touring Theatre * ''The Herbal Bed'' by Peter Whelan (Royal & Derngate, English Touring Theatre, Rose Theatre Kingston), 2016 UK Theatre Award for Best Touring Production * World Premiere of ''The Mountaintop'' by Katori Hall (Trafalgar Studios), 2010 Olivier Award for Best New Play, nominated for a further five Olivier, Whatsonstage and Evening Standard Awards * World Premiere of Aldous Huxley's ''Brave New World,'' adapted by Dawn King, composed by These New Puritans, (Royal & Derngate and National Tour) * World Premiere of Roy Williams' ''Soul,'' (Royal & Derngate and Hackney Empire) * World Premiere of Arthur Miller's ''The Hook'', (Royal & Derngate and Everyman Theatre) * ''As You Like It'' by William Shakespeare (Shakespeare's Globe, UK and European Tour and 2012 revival) * ''King James Bible'' (Royal National Theatre) * Premiere of ''Holy Warriors'' by David Eldridge (Shakespeare's Globe) * ''The Accrington Pals'' by Peter Whelan (Royal Exchange Theatre), 2013 TMA Award for Best Design Team * ''Cat on a Hot Tin Roof'' by Tennessee Williams (Royal & Derngate and Royal Exchange Theatre) and Northern Stage, with original music by White Lies * Premiere of ''A Tale of Two Cities'' adapted by Mike Poulton, composed by Rachel Portman, (Royal & Derngate and UK Tour) 2014 TMA nomination for Best Design Team. * European premiere of ''The Body of an American'' by Dan O'Brien (Gate Theatre) and (Royal & Derngate), nominated for an Evening Standard Award * Premiere of ''The Thrill of Love'' by Amanda Whittington (New Vic Theatre and Stephen Joseph Theatre) before transferring to St. James Theatre, finalist for the 2013 Writers Guild Best New Play Award. * Premiere of ''Judgement Day'' by Mike Poulton, after ''When We Dead Awaken'' by Henrik Ibsen (The Print Room), Ian Charleson Best Actress Commendation * European premiere of ''4000 Miles'' by Amy Herzog (Bath Theatre Royal) and (The Print Room), 2013 Pulitzer Prize Finalist * ''Bus Stop'' by William Inge (New Vic Theatre and Stephen Joseph Theatre) * Premiere of ''Precious Little Talent'' by Ella Hickson (Trafalgar Studios), Best Play, London Theatre Festival Awards 2011, nominated for an Evening Standard Award * Co-Directed premiere of ''The Unconquered'' by Torben Betts (Stellar Quines Theatre Company, UK Tour and Off-Broadway Transfer) * ''Desire Under the Elms'' by Eugene O'Neill (New Vic Theatre) * Premiere of ''Orpheus and Eurydice: A Myth Underground'' in a new adaptation by Molly Davies with music by James Johnston, Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds (National Youth Theatre / Old Vic Tunnels) * Premiere of ''The Error of Their Ways'' by Torben Betts (HERE Arts Centre, New York) * ''Copenhagen'' by Michael Frayn (New Vic Theatre) * ''Baal'' by Bertolt Brecht (Riverside Church, New York) * ''Broken'' (An adaptation of Ernst Toller's ''Hinkemann'' by Torben Betts, 2012) * ''Orpheus in the Underworld'' by Jacques Offenbach (Cambridge Arts Theatre) * Premiere of ''PMQ'' by Ella Hickson (Theatre503 and HighTide)
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * [https://web.archive.org/web/20190701030557/http://jamesdacre.com/ Personal website] * [https://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/james-dacre-american-words-british-production-1925436.html The Independent] * [http://www.fulbright.co.uk/news-events/news/fulbright-alumnus-produces-laurence-olivier-award-winning-play Fulbright Commission]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Dacre, James}} Category:1984 births Category:Living people Category:English theatre directors Category:English artistic directors Category:People educated at Eton College Category:Alumni of Jesus College, Cambridge Category:Columbia University School of the Arts alumni James