Sydney Theatre Company has announced that artistic director Jonathan Church will step down from his role. The U.K. director replaced Andrew Upton last September, marking the first time in the organization’s history that an international director was at the helm.

“It has been a great experience working with this wonderful company and getting to know its network of extraordinary artists over the past nine months,” commented Church in a press statement. “I expect to maintain close contacts with Australian theatre makers over the coming years, although, regrettably, it has not proved viable for me to continue as STC's Artistic Director while balancing my other interests as we had hoped. I wish the company and the whole team well for the future.”

Church had maintained from the outset that he would continue to be engaged in other opportunities through his company Jonathan Church Productions.

“Ultimately, both parties have decided that this arrangement won't be in the best interests for either in the long term,” said STC chairman Ian Narev.

Programming for the 2017 season will be completed by the company’s in-house artistic team and will be launched, as planned, in early September. A search for a new artistic director will commence after the season has launched.