Sydney Theatre Company has appointed prolific actor, director, writer and producer Mitchell Butel as its new artistic director, replacing Kip Williams from November.

Butel has spent the last five years as artistic director of the State Theatre Company of South Australia, where he oversaw hits such as a stage version of Pip Williams’ novel The Dictionary Of Lost Words – programmed after he noticed it becoming a book club favourite – and Bob Dylan jukebox musical Girl From The North Country.