Our Chairman, Donald Taffner Jr., said: “We are all looking forward to welcoming Eleanor to the Shaftesbury Theatre team. Following an extensive search, we strongly believe she is the perfect person to take our theatre forward. Eleanor is tasked with building on the extraordinary work of James Williams over the past two decades. James has greatly enhanced the theatre’s profile during his tenure both in connection with the programming decisions that were made as well as through the redevelopment of the building. We are pleased that we will have a continuing relationship with James and wish him the best of luck in the future.”
“I am absolutely thrilled to have been chosen to lead the largest independent theatre in the West End. I am excited to begin working with the brilliant team at the Shaftesbury Theatre. I am delighted to have the continued support of James Williams, who has worked tirelessly for the company for the past 2 decades, making the Shaftesbury Theatre fit for the next century, and I hope to build on his considerable legacy.”
Eleanor Lang is currently the Executive Director and co-CEO of Stratford East, which during her time there has produced productions including The Big Life, Beautiful Thing, King Hedley II, Equus, Tambo & Bones and the Olivier award winning Noye’s Fludde. Previously she was the Executive Director of Cheek by Jowl and of Free Word, an international centre for literature, literacy and free speech.
“Eleanor is the perfect person to lead The Shaftesbury Theatre. She has experience of leading companies like the Theatre Royal Stratford East and Cheek by Jowl, and will take on what I believe Is the most distinctive and original theatre in the West End. I depart knowing that Eleanor will continue to get the unparalleled support that I have received from Donald Taffner Jr, as she takes on the Company and Theatre which has been such a massive part of my life over the past 20 years.”
In 2004, James Williams joined the Theatre of Comedy Company as its Chief Executive. Many productions won significant awards whilst at the Theatre. An active member of the Society of London Theatre, James has also served as a Council member of UK Theatre, formally the TMA. He founded the audio description company, Vocaleyes, and was its Director and subsequently Chairman.