After 13 years developing contemporary performance and cultivating new audiences, Shane Bosher has announced his departure as artistic director of Silo, finishing his tenure in April 2014.

After 13 years developing contemporary performance and cultivating new audiences, Shane Bosher has announced his departure as artistic director of Silo, finishing his tenure in April 2014.

“Running a theatre company like this is an extraordinary feat of endurance – you really do have to give over a huge part of yourself and your life. I want to create the time and space to reinvest in my potential as an artist and practitioner. I feel like it’s time to go. The company feels like it’s in great shape to take on the future” says Bosher.

Bosher intends to remain in the sector, working as an independent director and writer, taking contracts in NZ and Australia.

Silo Board of Trustees Chair Rick Carlyon acknowledged Bosher’s extraordinary achievements over 13 years in building a fledgling theatre company into what is now regarded as one of New Zealand’s most vital and dynamic companies, and which rivals some of the best in the world. 

“We have much to be grateful for Shane’s vision, his tenacity through good times and bad, and his passion for nurturing a family of incredible talent in Auckland.”  Carlyon also said that the Trust will reflect on its options for a creative leader to replace Bosher and expects to make an appointment later this year. 

Bosher’s contribution to arts sector development has been immense and stands as one of his biggest achievements with Silo. He has fostered and invested in the talent of a huge amount of emerging creative forces within New Zealand including Mia Blake, Claire Chitham, Morgana O’Reilly, Matt Whelan, Chelsie Preston Crayford, Charlie McDermott, Sophie Henderson, Kip Chapman, Fasitua Amosa, Toni Potter and more recently Tim Carlsen, Sophie Roberts and Leon Wadham.

“When Shane began at Silo, his brand was established very quickly - this was not a gradual morph into the consistent excellence that is achieved by the company. His programming of brilliant writing, meticulous attention and respect given to all design elements and performance meant that Auckland instantly had a great new theatre company. It not only attracted large audiences to its guaranteed amazing productions but also attracted practitioners where their artistic dreams could be fully realised,” said director Katie Wolfe.

Bosher and his team have also significantly increased the amount of investment and recognition they’ve received from sustaining partners including Creative New Zealand, ASB Community Trust and Auckland Council and a number of significant philanthropic donors.

Currently in the process of confirming his final 2014 programme, Bosher is looking to create a season which celebrates all of the vital facets of the unique Silo experience. He hopes his successor forges their own way, leaving their own indelible mark: “Don’t feel you have to emulate what I’ve done: great companies evolve around the vision and personality of their leader. Maintain a company which is artistically led. Celebrate the possibility of your big idea,” he says.

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Shane Bosher trained as an actor at Toi Whakaari: NZ Drama School. From 1999-2001, he freelanced as an actor, producer and marketing manager, working for most of New Zealand's major theatre companies. During this time, he created and produced work with industry professionals such as Simon Bennett, Catherine Downes, Oliver Driver, Simon Prast, Michael Hurst and Katie Wolfe. In 2000, he produced the national tour of Tim Balme's Jimmy Costello and the following year was employed by Downstage Theatre, with a focus on developing new audiences.

Following a stint with the NZ Actors Company in 2001, Shane was employed by Silo Theatre to regenerate the company. Since 2002, he has grown the boutique underground theatre into a robust and vital centre for development and artistic excellence, building a dynamic audience unlike any other company in the country. His programming portfolio has included the work of Neil Labute, David Hare, Caryl Churchill, Mark Ravenhill, Andrew Bovell, Patrick Marber, Bertolt Brecht, Samuel Beckett and Stephen Sondheim alongside celebrated Kiwi talent such as Toa Fraser, Jodie Molloy and Jackie Van Beek.

As the Artistic Director, Shane has shifted the organisation from a venue-based enterprise with a curated mix of independent and inhouse productions to a non-venue based next generation production house. During this time, he has overseen the creation of 98 productions, including 21 new works and 9 touring productions.

He was named one of The Aucklanders of 2005 by Metro Magazine and in July 2007 was named one of the Most Influential People Under 40. He was also awarded Director of the Year by The NZ Listener 3 times.

Shane was selected by Creative NZ to participate in the Future Auckland Leaders Programme throughout 2006-07 and has also undertaken professional development in London and in New York.

Shane is also a playwright whose produced works include Homicidal Post-Pubescent Cheerleaders and A Star is Torn. He is currently developing two new works. The first, Dirty White Collar is an excavation of Ibsen's John Gabriel Borkman. The second, All the Things You Could Have Been if Not For Me, is a new work commission from Silo, where he is working alongside celebrated playwright Arthur Meek and an ensemble of multigenerational actors.

For Silo Theatre, Shane has directed productions of Private Lives, Tribes, Top Girls, Tartuffe, The Only Child, The Brothers Size, When the Rain Stops Falling, That Face, Ruben Guthrie, Holding the Man, The Little Dog Laughed, The Real Thing, Three Days Of Rain, Dying City, Take Me Out, Suddenly Last Summer, Mr. Kolpert and Bash. His final production as Artistic Director for the company will be in April 2014.

Media Release: Silo