Wildworks artistic director launches ‘courageous’ new theatre company

MYDD PHARO, artistic director of Cornwall-based Wildworks, has announced he is leaving the immersive theatre company to set up a new multi-disciplinary arts organisation.

Daur – which means ‘a form of dare, a dare to be courageous’ in the Celtic language – will be an experimental company which aims to create “courageous productions and experiences”.

Pharo joined Wildworks when it was founded in 2005 and worked closely with the company’s founder, BILL MITCHELL, who died in 2017.

He became artistic director of the ACE National Portfolio Organisation in 2020.

Over a 25-year career in experimental and interactive theatre he has also worked with Kneehigh, Punchdrunk, the National Theatre and The Globe.

Pharo said he had “had the time of my life” working at Wildworks and “learnt so much over the years” from Mitchell.

He added: “I have loved being at the heart of growing, nurturing and provoking the creative vision and ambition of the company, which has been like no other.”

Commenting on his new venture, he said: “With Daur, it’s out with safe and in with courage, joy, radical kindness and wonder.

“We are already at work on our plans for 2025 and will be revealing details of the developments, and key collaborators, in the very near, and very exciting, future.”