About six months after Rachel Peake began her job as artistic director at London’s Grand Theatre, I called for an interview, thinking she’d had a bit of time to settle into the role.

In fact, we spoke at length twice during March and April of 2024. Both times, Peake was gracious and accommodating. She spoke easily about a pivot in her interests from television to theatre thanks to a moving production of West Side Story at Vancouver’s Arts Club Theatre, her previous work as a freelance director and dramaturge, and her efforts to become acquainted with London’s arts community and its supporters. She was effusive and forthcoming.

But I held off writing about our conversations, feeling I still was missing some key aspect of her vision and ambition. I chalked it up to inadequate questioning o

See Full Page