Artistic director Colin Blumenau is stepping down in July.

A DIRECTOR of a historic theatre house who has announced that he will step down after 15 years has had his achievements described as “immense.”

Colin Blumenau will relinquish his role as artistic director of The Theatre Royal, Bury St Edmunds, at the end of July.

Although Mr Blumenau will no longer be part of the Theatre’s management, he will continue to be closely associated with the playhouse.

He will direct a new production of Jane Austen’s Mansfield Park and will be writing pantomime adventure, Rapunzel and the Rascal Prince, showing at the end of the year.

Since joining the Theatre in 1996, Mr Blumenau’s achievements have included leading the major restoration project and redesigning the theatre as well as creating 33 in-house productions as director and writer.