Michelle Terry has announced she will step down as artistic director of Shakespeare’s Globe at the end of 2027, completing a decade in the role. Her departure coincides with a milestone year marking 20 years performing on the Globe’s stages and the theatre’s 30th anniversary.

Michelle Terry will conclude her tenure as artistic director of Shakespeare’s Globe in 2027, having led the organisation since 2017. During her decade at the helm, she has focused on widening access to Shakespeare and the Globe, balancing artistic and commercial priorities while broadening the theatre’s reach.

By the end of her leadership, over 2,000 actors will have worked on 77 productions at the Globe, which are expected to have been seen by more than 2.3 million people from over 190 countries. Terry has commissioned 25 new plays, with 63% written by women and 26% by global majority writers.

One notable success under her oversight was the play Emilia by Morgan Lloyd Malcolm, which transferred to the West End’s Vaudeville Theatre in 2019 and won three Olivier Awards in 2020. The Globe has maintained a £5 ticket price scheme, ensuring theatre remains financially accessible.

In addition to her administrative role, Terry will return to the stage next summer to reprise her role as Mother Courage in Mother Courage and Her Children. This production, translated by Anna Jordan and directed by Globe associate artist Elle While, will run from 10 June to 17 July 2027.

Reflecting on her time at the Globe, Terry emphasised the theatre’s unique place: “These theatres are the most extraordinary theatres in the world. We have the privilege of being able to ask: what can we do here that cannot be done anywhere else.” She highlighted theatre’s power for social cohesion and individual impact.

Shakespeare’s Globe chief executive Stella Kanu praised Terry’s tenure, calling her artistic courage and commitment to inclusion “extraordinary” and credited her with giving artists confidence to explore Shakespeare’s plays in new ways. Kanu also confirmed that future leadership announcements will come in due course.

Terry’s departure marks the end of a formative period for the Globe, which continues to cement its global reputation as a centre for Shakespearean performance and innovation in theatre accessibility.