Toronto's Alisa Palmer has been named artistic director of the National Theatre School of Canada's English section, succeeding Sherry Bie. She will take up the Montreal post in January, 2013.
Formerly artistic director of Nightwood Theatre, Palmer recently completed her eighth season at the Shaw Festival, and has projects in development with the National Arts Centre, and with both the Shaw and Stratford Shakespeare festivals.
Born and raised in New Brunswick, Palmer earned a history degree at McGill University, and later studied theatre in Montreal, Paris and Brazil.
She had worked variously as a director, playwright, dramaturge and theatre producer.
In making the appointment, NTS CEO Simon Brault called Palmer "a daring and astounding theatre artist who has a clear take on Canada's theatrical needs and issues."