Two former directors vie for RSC's top job

The Royal Shakespeare Company will this week try to draw a line under recent troubles by naming a new artistic director after the unexpected departure of Adrian Noble.

The board is due to choose Mr Noble's successor on Wednesday after drawing up a shortlist of candidates to restore the theatre company's artistic and financial fortunes.

Members of the selection panel are thought to have narrowed their choice to two names who have directed for the RSC in the past – Michael Boyd and Gregory Doran.

Their work was made simpler last week when another of the favourites, Simon Russell Beale, confirmed that he had withdrawn from the race to succeed Mr Noble.

The former RSC artistic director stepped down in April after 11 years with the RSC amid infighting over his plans to overhaul the company. Plans to demolish the RSC's Thirties theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon and move its actors out of their established London winter venue in the Barbican caused widespread discontent in the company's ranks.

The proposals, which included the creation of a Shakespeare Village for students and tourists, were shelved after Mr Noble's departure. The director was also criticised for a number of disappointing productions as well as for taking three months off to direct the acclaimed West End hit, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.

Whoever emerges as head of the company will have to deal with financial problems.

The RSC, which receives a subsidy of about £30m, is set for a deficit of £1.8m this year but denies rumours that ticket sales at the Haymarket Theatre in London, where it is performing Antony and Cleopatra and Much Ado About Nothing, have been up to 60 per cent below expectations.

It had been hoped that high- profile names such as Kenneth Branagh and Sam Mendes might have applied to the RSC selection panel, which includes the actress Sinead Cusack and Sir Richard Eyre, former artistic director of the National Theatre. But it is thought the RSC's troubles have put off many A-list candidates.

Those who remain on the shortlist have considerable pedigree. Boyd has been acclaimed for his productions of Henry VI, parts I, II, III. Doran has been directing the current Jacobean season at Stratford.