ABSTRACT
Trevor Nunn faced a formidable task: the RSC was already world class – how could he improve it? Peter Hall had stressed continuity, having chosen Nunn precisely because he wanted him to challenge what he had established. Nunn, on the other hand, needed the safety net and sustenance of continuity. He had no management experience and was thrust into post with little time to prepare. Despite the RSC’s achievements under Hall, and precisely because they were associated with Hall, his departure at a moment of financial calamity made the company highly vulnerable. Would the Arts Council continue to support the RSC shorn of the man who was synonymous with its very existence?
