arts
‘It’s a relief … I’m irrelevant!’: Rufus Norris on life after the National Theatre
He stood down as boss of the NT – and threw himself into kayaking, writing and DIY. The veteran director talks about his new start aged 60, mourning his mother – and directing Death of a Salesman in Turkish
TL;DR
- Rufus Norris concluded his 10-year tenure as director of the National Theatre in 2025, a period coinciding with personal loss and a significant birthday.
- He took a deliberate break, focusing on DIY, kayaking, and relocating to Scotland before taking on his first post-NT project: directing 'Death of a Salesman' in Turkish in Istanbul.
- The Istanbul production features a star-studded Turkish cast and a hybrid international creative team, presenting challenges and opportunities due to the large venue.
- Norris finds freedom in his post-NT career, allowing him to express his political views and pursue diverse creative endeavors, including writing a one-man play and a film script.
- He critiques simplistic and selective historical narratives, particularly those emphasizing a 'fabled past' of Britain, drawing on his experiences growing up in former colonies.