INTRODUCING... Harrogate Theatre's new creative academy and autumn season.

Goodbye Hannah Chissick, the youngest artistic director in Harrogate Theatre's century-long history. Hello, no new artistic director. In its stead will be a "pioneering creative academy".
Charles Hutchinson introduces the new venture and puts the questions to chief executive David Bown, Marcus Romer, the Pilot Theatre director with a fresh portfolio, and guest director Asha Kahlon.

What is the way forward for Harrogate Theatre?

The launch of the autumn and winter season marks the start of a ground-breaking artistic initiative to develop and nurture emerging talent in theatre. Entitled The Academy, it aims to provide opportunities for directors, designers and writers from across the country, not only the north.

Ideas for the initiative were prompted by the March departure of artistic director Hannah Chissick to freelance pastures new, followed by discussions between the board of directors, the theatre management and Pilot Theatre, already the company in residence at York Theatre Royal.

"After careful consideration of the theatre's artistic position and a study of how best to serve audiences of the future, The Academy has been established to maximise the theatre's creative potential by building on the legacy of Hannah Chissick for delivering dynamic and accessible theatre," says David Bown.

Who will be the key players?

Chief executive David Bown, whose skills incorporate directing and writing plays; and Marcus Romer, the boundlessly enthusiastic artistic director of Pilot Theatre and champion of multi-media theatre in partnership with other theatres.

"We're looking to decide how the theatre should develop over the next five to ten years, and the Academy will help to shape that future, and the debate about the way forward," says David.

Who will be the first emerging talent to benefit from the Academy?

Asha Kahlon will be the first guest director to enter The Academy. Having already cut her teeth at York Theatre Royal, directing The Little Mermaid in The Studio in June 2005, and made her mark with Pilot Theatre too, she will direct Jim Cartwright's The Rise And Fall Of Little Voice in a run from October 13 to November 4.

"This will be my first time working in Harrogate, but when I was at college Harrogate Theatre was one of the places I always aspired to work at," says Asha, "It's a great opportunity, particularly when the theatre is undergoing change, and I'm also looking forward to working with the youth theatre too."

Marcus adds: "Asha first worked with Pilot on Unsuitable Girls and was the assistant director and staff director for our productions of East Is East and Lord Of The Flies, and having seen her direct for us, it's great to see her being given this chance at Harrogate.

"I'm a big believer in creating the opportunity for the development of talent, and we're looking forward to doing that in Harrogate, just as we have at York."

After the financial difficulties of 2005-2006, will Harrogate Theatre look to spread costs by forging more partnerships?

Yes. The 50th anniversary revival of John Osborne's angry, youthful attack on the post-war Establishment will be performed in a co-production with Pilot Theatre and the Oldham Coliseum Theatre. Marcus Romer's show will run in Harrogate from February 9 to March 3.

"Pilot has never done a show in Harrogate before, so I'm really looking forward to it. One of the things for us is that we're a touring company and all the plays we've done for the past ten years have been co-productions," says Marcus. "We'll still continue to be based at York Theatre Royal and will continue to work from there as well, but we'll also continue to diversify."

What are the benefits of this theatrical cross-pollination?

"It makes artistic sense because how we deliver and disseminate theatre has to change," says Marcus. "Piloting that change is part of what we do at Pilot Theatre, where we can develop work and assist theatres like Harrogate and Oldham."

Will Marcus be artistic director by another name?

"No. I'm not going to be artistic director and that's not what all this is about. What we're doing is looking at new ways of working in theatre."

Where will the buck stop at Harrogate Theatre, in the absence of an artistic director?

"With me," says David Bown, chief executive.