Ned Glasier: Why I'm stepping down after 15 years

Our artistic director on his decision to step away from the company he founded 15 years ago.

Ned directing When This Is Over, October 2021. Photograph by Tom Harrison

Fifteen years after setting up Company Three, I’ve decided that I’m going to step down as Artistic Director in early 2024.

It's a big and emotional decision to leave something that has been such a significant part of my life for so long. It has changed me so deeply and I have learnt so much from everyone I’ve worked with – particularly all the incredible young people who’ve been part of our work since 2008.

I am proud that Company Three has done so much to change the face of youth theatre – and theatre – in the last fifteen years. We’ve made space for thousands of local young people to grow as artists in their own right and have performed our work at some of the UK’s leading venues. We’ve supported more than 1,000 youth theatres and artists through training, blueprints and the countless mentoring sessions and informal conversations that are part of our every week. More than 300 groups around the world have made their own version of our play Brainstorm - it makes me so happy to imagine all those teengers in countries around the world, telling their truth, in their words, to the adults who mean the most to them.

We’ve also made loads of mistakes. So much of what we get right is built on the learning that we did when we got things wrong. When you fail in roles like mine, you inevitably hurt and disappoint people. At a time like this, I think it’s important to acknowledge this, and them.

As hard as it is to go, I am leaving because I want to make space for a new generation of artistic leaders. Even more importantly, I want to leave a company in which they can thrive. I’m confident that Company Three is that company. NPO funding means we finally have a staff structure that feels properly sustainable . We’ve got a business plan that is designed to be flexible and responsive for whoever takes it on. We have a wonderful team, amazing freelancers, a strong, supportive board, and brilliant partners – local and national.

Most importantly, our young people are thriving. This is thanks to the work of Nuna, Angie, Amber and Gavin - supported so brilliantly by Becky and Katie and our facilitators - who have nurtured our members with such care and craft since the pandemic. It feels like our members are more committed than ever to our work, despite - or perhaps because of - everything the world throws at them.

I am also leaving because I want to make space for me to explore, learn and do things that never quite fitted with Company Three. I don’t have a solid plan, but I know I’m interested in translating my interest in co-creation and young people’s happiness in fields outside of theatre. I’m open to ideas, offers and new connections (please do get in touch).

Over the next few months, I’m going to share some of my thoughts about leaving on a new blog. I want to be a founding CEO who leaves well and I think sharing the transition process might help with that. I hope it will be useful for others, too.

This November, we’re going to celebrate C3’s fifteenth birthday. We’re going to bring all our ex-members and staff back together to remember, reflect and learn a bit more about our long-term impact. We’re also going to create a new fund to give the new Artistic Director (or Directors) stability and confidence as they start out in the role.

The new artistic director role will be advertised in the early autumn. Before that, all our focus and energy will be on our new play, #BlackIs…, created by our associate AD Nuna Sandy and a cast of brilliant young people. It comes to the New Diorama Theatre in mid-September.

I’m really excited about it – and about the future of Company Three.