Erica Whyman
Erica Whyman, OBE is an English theatre director who became deputy artistic director at the Royal Shakespeare Company in January 2013.
Background
Whyman was born in Harrogate, Yorkshire, but lived in Barnsley until aged eight, before her family moved to Surrey. She studied French and Philosophy at Oxford University and theatre with Philippe Gaulier at École Philippe Gaulier in Paris and then at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School. Whyman was the Chief Executive at Northern Stage, Newcastle upon Tyne, from 2005 to 2012.In 2013, Whyman became deputy artistic director of the Royal Shakespeare Company. In September 2021, she became acting artistic director of the RSC.
Personal life and honours
In 2013, she was appointed an OBE in the New Year Honours List. She has a daughter, Ruby, with playwright Richard Bean.Career
- 1997 – Awarded the John S Cohen Bursary for Directors at the National Theatre Studio
- 1997–98 – Associate producer of Tricycle Theatre
- 1998–2000 – Associate director of English Touring Theatre
- 1999–2001 – Artistic director Southwark Playhouse
- 2001–04 – Artistic director and chief executive of Gate Theatre
- 2004–05 – Fellow of the Clore Leadership Programme in the first cohort
- 2005–2012 – Chief executive of Northern Stage, Newcastle upon Tyne
Northern Stage productions
- Son of Man
- Ruby Moon
- Our Friends in the North
- A Christmas Carol
- A Doll's House
- Look Back in Anger
- Hansel and Gretel
- Oh What a Lovely War
- The Wind in the Willows
- Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf
- The Glass Slipper
- Oh, The Humanity
- The Borrowers
Royal Shakespeare Company productions
- The Christmas Truce
- Hecuba
- A Midsummer Night's Dream: A Play for the Nation
- The Seven Acts of Mercy
- The Earthworks
- Romeo and Juliet
- Miss Littlewood
- The Winter's Tale, broadcast on BBC Four
Other productions
- The Winter's Tale
- Les Justes
- Witness
- Marieluise
- The Flu Season
- The Shadow of a Boy
- The Birthday Party